Governor Kim Sets Deadline for University Merger on the 15th
Launch of Ruling and Opposition Legislative Council a Variable... Time is Tight
Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok is speaking about the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam at the Policy Council meeting of department heads on the 12th. Photo by Jeonnam Province
The 'pendulum' for establishing a national medical school in Jeonnam Province is accelerating.
On the 12th, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok stated at the policy council meeting of department heads, "The bipartisan legislative council has been launched and held its first meeting on the 11th," adding, "We must respond swiftly so that the ongoing integration agreement between Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University is reached quickly, allowing the agenda for establishing a medical school in Jeonnam Province to be brought to the table."
Governor Kim said, "Originally, the universities were to be recommended to the government by the 25th, but the launch of the bipartisan legislative council has introduced variables," and urged, "We earnestly request both universities to agree on integration by the initial application deadline of the 15th."
Jeonnam Province had set the first application deadline as the 15th and the second deadline as the 20th for both universities, but due to changing circumstances, it has moved the application deadline forward by 10 days to the 15th to urge integration.
Governor Kim's remarks are interpreted as an expression of his intention to promptly bring the proposal for establishing a national medical school in Jeonnam to the agenda of the upcoming bipartisan legislative council meeting next week, provided the two universities decide on integration by the 15th.
Jeonnam Province holds the position that to open the integrated medical school in March 2026, the accreditation application must be submitted to the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation by December 1 at the latest, making the timeline tight.
At the first meeting held on the 11th, the bipartisan legislative council announced it would also reconsider the medical school quota for 2025, placing Jeonnam Province in a desperate situation where it must bring the proposal for establishing the Jeonnam medical school to the agenda as soon as possible.
Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University, led by their planning directors, have shared a consensus on the necessity of integration and have conducted more than ten working-level consultations, reportedly reaching the final stages of integration in broad terms.
Governor Kim Young-rok urged, "Since both universities greatly agree on the necessity and justification of integration and share this understanding, please do your best to reach an agreement," and appealed, "We hope the residents will support and encourage this difficult integration process."
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