Park Ji-won "Government Must Quickly Approve Jeonnam Integrated Medical School"

Minister Lee Ju-ho Demands '200 Medical School Quotas'

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Haenam, Wando, and Jindo in Jeonnam), urged the government on the 27th to promptly approve the establishment of the National Integrated Medical School in Jeonnam.

At the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the same day, Park stated, “Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University have declared their integration, and the Governor of Jeonnam has requested the government to recommend a medical school to the integrated university,” adding, “The government, including the President and the Prime Minister, must approve the establishment of 200 new medical school seats in Jeonnam as originally promised.”

Park Ji-won, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Park said, “In March, President Yoon Suk-yeol said at a Jeonnam public discussion on people's livelihoods, ‘Regarding the issue of establishing a national medical school, if Jeonnam Province decides which university and gathers opinions to inform us, we will proceed,’” and “The Prime Minister and the government also said, ‘If the region sufficiently gathers opinions and recommends a university, we will establish it.’”

He continued, “Although there are complicated circumstances such as the medical crisis, Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University have integrated, and the Governor of Jeonnam has applied to the Ministry of Education for a medical school at the integrated university. I hope the Minister of Education will approve the quota of 200 medical school seats,” reiterating his demand.

In response, Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho said, “Regarding the medical school quota issue, in the case of Jeonnam, once a proposal is made, we have agreed to actively review it. However, the issue of medical school quotas is still facing various difficulties,” adding, “Once these issues are resolved and the Ministry of Health and Welfare analyzes the total quota, the Ministry of Education has the authority to allocate accordingly.”

Then, Park said, “President Yoon Suk-yeol promised, ‘Among all metropolitan governments except Sejong City, Jeonnam is the only one without a medical school. If Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam recommends a university, I will approve a quota of 200 medical school seats,’” and “I understand the procedures, but since the President promised the Governor of Jeonnam, and the national universities have integrated according to the government and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho’s policy, if Governor Kim Young-rok applies through the integrated university, approval must be granted.”

Minister Lee replied, “We will actively review it.”