Emphasis on the Establishment of the POSTECH School of Medicine at the Future Medical Innovation Research Association's Regular Seminar
Pohang, the Optimal Location for a Medical School... Strong Call for Inclusion in the New Government's National Agenda
While Pohang City continues its multifaceted efforts to establish the POSTECH School of Medicine, it is accelerating its initiatives to ensure the project is included as a national agenda item for the new government.
On June 10, Lee Gangdeok, mayor of Pohang, attended the 7th Regular Seminar of the Future Medical Innovation Research Association held at Voco Seoul Gangnam in Seoul. He emphasized the importance of regional medical innovation and the training of physician-scientists, and strongly insisted that the establishment of the POSTECH School of Medicine must be reflected as a national agenda of the new government.
This seminar was held under the theme "What We Expect from the New Government: Medical Reform and Fostering the Pharmaceutical and Bio Industries."
On the 10th, Lee Gangdeok, mayor of Pohang, insisted that the establishment of POSTECH School of Medicine must be included as a national agenda of the new government.
The seminar was attended by key figures in Korea's medical and bio sectors, including Lim Jongyun, chairperson of the Future Medical Innovation Research Association; Kang Daehee, president of the association; Lim Intaek, professor at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Management at Catholic University; Yoo Kyungho, dean of the College of Medicine at Hallym University; Kim Hyungseok, director of the Biomedical Research Institute at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital; Nam Kiyeon, CEO of Qurient; Jung Sungkwan, chairperson of Woori Children’s Hospital; and Han Sungjun, CEO of Kory, who all presented policy alternatives.
In line with these discussions, Pohang City proposed the establishment of the POSTECH School of Medicine as a practical model to drive medical innovation at the regional level and foster the national bio industry.
Pohang City, which boasts world-class R&D infrastructure such as third- and fourth-generation synchrotron accelerators and cryo-electron microscopes (Cryo-EM), achieved the designation as a national advanced strategic industry bio-specialized complex last year.
Pohang City's vision is that, if a medical school is established in conjunction with these resources, it will be possible to build a full-cycle bio-industry ecosystem encompassing the training of physician-scientists, basic and clinical research, technology commercialization, and industrial expansion.
To realize this vision, the city is actively promoting the establishment of the POSTECH School of Medicine by building broad public consensus.
In particular, since President Lee Jaemyung also pledged during his presidential campaign to establish a new medical school in the Gyeongbuk region, the city maintains that the establishment of the POSTECH School of Medicine must be included as a national agenda item of the new government as a concrete measure to fulfill this pledge.
Mayor Lee Gangdeok stated, "Healthcare is a core public service that determines the quality of life for the people and is the foundation of the nation's future industries," emphasizing, "Now is the golden time to include the establishment of the POSTECH School of Medicine as a national agenda item for the new government to promote regional medical innovation and train physician-scientists."
He added, "Medical reform and fostering the bio industry are not choices but survival strategies, and the POSTECH School of Medicine is a national model that encompasses both the provision of high-quality medical services and the training of physician-scientists. Pohang is undoubtedly the optimal location to realize this vision."
In March, Pohang City signed a mutual cooperation MOU with the Future Medical Innovation Research Association for the training of physician-scientists and regional medical innovation. The city is laying the groundwork for the establishment of the POSTECH School of Medicine by building cooperative relationships with expert groups across the medical and bio sectors.
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