Will the Tangled Issues of Jeonnam National Medical University Be Untangled?

Jeonnam Province Welcomes Assemblyman Kim Munsu's Statement
New Momentum Expected Amid Predominant Opposition to Eastern Jeonnam Public Offering

On the 13th, Jeollanam-do expressed its welcome through a statement issued by the spokesperson regarding the previous day's announcement by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Moon-soo (Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, Gurye Gap) urging participation in the Suncheon National University public contest.

In his statement, Lawmaker Kim Moon-soo said, "Not participating in Jeonnam Province's public contest procedure is effectively an act that reduces the possibility of attracting a medical school to Suncheon National University to 0%," and urged, "An immediate strategic shift is necessary to attract the medical school to Suncheon National University."

Amid the somewhat tense atmosphere caused by opposition from the eastern region to the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam, Assemblyman Kim Moon-soo has issued a statement urging Suncheon National University to participate in the public contest, bringing a new mood. The photo shows Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok performing a medical school attraction event at the National Assembly Members' Office Building last May.
[Photo by Jeonnam Province]

In response, Jeollanam-do issued a statement saying, "We deeply appreciate and welcome Lawmaker Kim Moon-soo's statement emphasizing the urgency of a strategic shift for attracting the medical school to Suncheon National University and urging participation in Jeonnam Province's public contest."

It continued, "The government has requested Jeollanam-do to recommend a university for establishing a national medical school, and accordingly, Jeonnam Province is currently conducting a public contest service to select the recommended university," adding, "We will make every effort to ensure that the contest is conducted faithfully based on fairness, transparency, objectivity, and democracy through a professional service agency."

Furthermore, "We will hold separate public hearings or briefing sessions for faculty and staff of both Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University to fully collect opinions from residents, universities, and stakeholders during the contest process," it added.

Along with this, "We will actively strive to have both universities participate in the contest to protect the health rights of all residents and establish a national medical school plan that completes the medical system across all regions of the province," and "We will surely achieve the establishment of a national medical school based on coexistence and harmony," it concluded.

Considering that Lawmaker Kim Moon-soo was one of the parties opposing the Suncheon National University medical school contest along with Suncheon National University President Lee Byung-woon in April, this call for participation in the contest is somewhat unexpected. Jeonnam Province is welcoming the lawmaker's recent statement, hoping it will give momentum to the previously tense situation regarding the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam.

Of course, Suncheon National University and Suncheon City still maintain their existing stance opposing participation in the contest, but attention is focused on whether Lawmaker Kim's recent statement will bring a new momentum.