Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University Begin Serious Discussions on Establishing an 'Integrated Medical School'

Co-Chairs of Two University Presidents Launch 'Promotion Committee'
University Integration Application to be Submitted to Ministry of Education Next Month

National Mokpo University (President Song Ha-cheol) and National Suncheon University (President Lee Byung-woon) launched a "Joint Promotion Committee" chaired jointly by the presidents of both universities to engage in full-scale integration discussions just two weeks after reaching a dramatic agreement on university integration and the establishment of an integrated medical school.

According to both universities on the 28th, the Joint Promotion Committee consists of 12 members from each university, including seven key officials, representatives of professors, staff, teaching assistants, and students. The first meeting was held on the 27th to discuss the direction and detailed schedule for preparing and submitting the university integration application.

On the 27th, Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University launched a "Joint Promotion Committee" to discuss integration. Photo by Mokpo National University

Both universities plan to submit the university integration application to the Ministry of Education by next month, aiming for integration in March 2026. They also agreed to work together to ensure smooth university integration and the establishment of the integrated medical school by applying for preliminary evaluation accreditation from the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation for the 2026 academic year.

To this end, the universities have also formed a "University Integration Working Committee," co-chaired by the Director of Academic Affairs at Mokpo University and the Vice President for External Cooperation at Suncheon University, to establish an integration plan through in-depth discussions in related fields.

The University Integration Working Committee operates through three subcommittees: ▲ Specialization & Admissions ▲ Education, Research, Students & Industry-Academia Collaboration ▲ Administration & Infrastructure. It coordinates detailed matters necessary for the university integration application, such as the method of selecting the university name and gathering stakeholders' opinions. The integration plan will be finalized after review by the Joint Promotion Committee.

A representative of the Joint Promotion Committee stated, "This integration is the first between glocal universities, and both universities will grow into top-tier, ultra-glocal regional hub universities through campus specialization." They added, "As both universities are sincerely pursuing integration, we expect the government to promptly fulfill its promise to establish a medical school in Jeonnam."