Lee Jaemyung Sparks High Hopes for Establishment of National Medical School in Jeonnam

Lee Specifies 'Establishment of National Medical School in Jeonnam' in Honam Region Pledge
Kim Youngrok, Mokpo National University, Suncheon National University Welcome the Move
Justice Party’s Jeonnam Provincial Party and Political Circles Express Support
Some Call for Caution... Previous Administrations Only Made Verbal Promises
Need for More Concrete and Firm Preparation Highlighted
Jeonnam Province: "Preparations Underway for Medical School Establishment by 2027"

Democratic Party presidential primary candidate Lee Jaemyung (center in photo) visited the Energy Self-Sufficient Smart Farm Research Building at Jeonnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services in Naju, Jeonnam on the 25th to inspect various facilities. Photo by Shim Jinseok

Expectations for the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam are rising once again. This renewed interest comes as Lee Jaemyung, a presidential primary candidate for the Democratic Party, has included the "establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam," which had been adrift without clear direction, as one of his campaign pledges. However, some voices are calling for a calm and systematic approach, pointing out that various regional and political obstacles remain.

Lee, who is currently on a three-day visit (from the 24th to the 26th) as part of the Democratic Party’s presidential primary campaign in the Honam region, announced his "Honam region pledges" via his social media on April 24. He made it clear that he intends to "establish a national medical school in Jeonnam, which currently has none, in order to directly train essential public healthcare personnel for the region."

There is an evident sense of welcome from various sectors in the region.

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, stated, "I sincerely welcome the inclusion of not only the establishment of a national medical school but also a comprehensive vision and pledges for the revitalization of the Honam region."

The Jeonnam Provincial Party of the Justice Party also issued a statement, saying, "We welcome the pledge to establish a medical school, which has been a long-cherished wish of Jeonnam residents for decades."

Representatives from Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University, who have supported the idea of an integrated national medical school, also expressed their agreement, stating, "We appreciate (candidate Lee’s) deep understanding of Jeonnam’s urgent medical situation and the responsible policy direction he has presented."

The reason why the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam is drawing such attention from local residents is the dire state of healthcare in the region, which remains among the lowest in the country.

The population of Jeonnam is about 1.8 million across 22 cities and counties. Of these, the proportion of elderly residents exceeds 26%. While the aging population is rapidly increasing, there are as many as 17 areas classified as medically underserved for emergency care. Even looking at the number of public health doctors, who are on the front lines of public healthcare, the figure dropped sharply from 586 in 2023 to 534 last year, and this year to 477 (179 in medicine, 108 in dentistry, and 190 in Korean medicine). Each year, about 300 emergency patients from Jeonnam die while being transferred to the nearby metropolitan city of Gwangju.

Although the situation is urgent, the issue of establishing a medical school in Jeonnam has remained at a standstill. The plan that Jeonnam originally hoped for?establishing a medical school by 2026?was ultimately scrapped due to a combination of factors under the Yoon Sukyeol administration: an increase in medical school admissions leading to student departures, a strike by medical residents, and the freeze on medical school quotas for 2026.

Observers say that Lee’s recent pledge to realize the establishment of a local medical school has become a turning point, completely changing the atmosphere.

However, some point out that more preparation is still needed. Since this is currently just a campaign pledge, they argue that it is time to develop a systematic plan rather than getting ahead of themselves.

Successive administrations?Park Geunhye, Moon Jaein, and now Yoon Sukyeol?have all promised to establish a local medical school whenever a new government took office. However, for years, conflicts have reached their peak as the interests of different local governments, political circles, and the medical community have clashed. Now, as the issue of establishing a national medical school in Jeonnam resurfaces, some regions such as Gyeongbuk are already voicing complaints, saying that they too desperately need a medical school.

Regarding this, a Jeonnam provincial official stated, "The issue of establishing a medical school in the region is not new?it has been a lifelong wish. Although many challenges remain, since both candidate Lee and the Democratic Party have included this issue in their pledges, a foundation has been laid for the stalled national medical school project to take a step forward. By 2027, a national medical school must be established in Jeonnam, and we are preparing accordingly."