Yoon Responds to Demand for New Medical School in Jeonnam: "Will Proceed if Opinions Are Gathered and Shared"

Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Proposes "Medical School Absolutely Needed in the Region"

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed his intention to promote the establishment of a medical school in the Jeonnam region during a public discussion on livelihood held in Jeonnam on the 14th. Since there is currently no medical school in the Jeonnam area, attention is focused on whether the 'establishment of a medical school' will gain momentum.

At the discussion, when Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam, said, "I would like to propose that our Jeonnam National Medical School is also essential during the healthcare system reform," President Yoon responded, "If Jeonnam Province decides which university it will be, gathers opinions, and informs us, we will also promote it."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

So far, Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University have been competing to attract a medical school in Jeonnam. Last October, Governor Kim mentioned, "There are concerns both centrally and locally about Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University competing (to attract a medical school)," adding, "We should even consider applying for integration to the government."

President Yoon's remarks are interpreted to mean that if Jeonnam Province first gathers residents' opinions, selects the university to establish the medical school, and informs the government, the establishment will be promoted. Woo Dong-gi, Chairman of the Local Era Committee, said at a briefing after the discussion, "In other regions, when demands for medical school establishment were made, there was no response. (The president's) unexpected remarks today seem like a very big gift for Jeonnam," adding, "It means that if Jeonnam Province selects the university, it will be promoted during his term."

Kim Hwa-jin, Chairperson of the People Power Party Jeonnam Provincial Party, also emphasized, "Governor Kim should use his political skills to bring together local government heads, members of the National Assembly, and university presidents to select one between Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University and establish the medical school with a sense of urgency," adding, "The government and the People Power Party will also support this."

After Seonam University was closed in 2018 due to poor management, the claim that Seonam University's medical school quota should be allocated to the Jeonnam region gained traction. Kim Won-i, a member of the Democratic Party representing Mokpo in Jeonnam, issued a statement the day before saying, "I strongly urge the simultaneous promotion of establishing a medical school in the Jeonnam area and a regional doctor system to properly revive local healthcare." In the National Assembly, the 'Special Act on Establishing a Medical School at Mokpo National University' proposed by Kim and the 'Special Act on Establishing a Medical School in Jeonnam and Training Public Medical Personnel' proposed by So Byung-chul of the same party are pending.

However, concerns have also been raised that even if a medical school is established in Jeonnam, it might follow the same path as Seonam University and eventually close. Seonam University's medical school was criticized for lacking an affiliated hospital, forcing its students to train as doctors at small and medium-sized partner hospitals, resulting in inadequate medical education. Professors from Jeonbuk National University Medical School issued a statement on the 7th, saying, "If the quota is increased hastily, we will experience the painful experience of the closure of Seonam University Medical School in 2018 again."