Governor Kim Youngrok: "Establishment of National Medical School in Jeonnam Virtually Confirmed... Overwhelmed with Emotion"

Via Facebook: "The 30-Year Aspiration for a Medical School Is Within Reach"
Mokpo and Suncheon Universities to Merge; Thanks Extended to Both Presidents
Expected Intake of 100 Students; Improving Poor Medical Infrastructure

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, declared that the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam has entered its final confirmation stage.

On January 21, Governor Kim stated on his Facebook page, "It appears that the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam will finally be confirmed."

He explained, "At the government’s Health and Medical Policy Review Committee held yesterday, a plan was discussed to establish new medical schools with an intake of 100 students each in regions without existing medical schools, including Jeonnam. This structure is designed to secure additional medical personnel, separate from the expansion of existing medical schools."

In fact, on January 20, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held the 4th Health and Medical Policy Review Committee at the International Electronics Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to discuss the scale of physician training after next year. During this process, the committee reportedly considered assuming an intake of around 100 students each for public medical schools and new medical schools in regions without one, and is reviewing applying this approach when calculating next year’s medical school admissions quota.

Governor Kim said, "It seems highly likely that a new medical school with an intake of 100 students will be established in Jeonnam. As the long-cherished wish of our residents for the past 30 years comes within reach, I am so overwhelmed with emotion that I could cry."

He further emphasized, "Along with the regional physician system being considered by the government, this is expected to significantly improve the poor medical environment in our region and greatly contribute to securing residents' right to health. Not a single day was easy until the two universities (Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University) reached a decision on integration."

In December last year, Suncheon National University held a vote on integrating with Mokpo National University, but the proposal was rejected due to student opposition. However, in a re-vote on January 16, more than half of the students (50.3%) voted in favor, passing the integration proposal.

As a result, Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University are reportedly proceeding again with procedures such as a review by the Ministry of Education’s University Consolidation Review Committee, aiming to launch the integrated university in March 2027.

Governor Kim expressed his gratitude, saying, "I deeply thank the presidents and faculty members of both universities for coming together as a collective intelligence for the greater good. I also extend my endless gratitude to the residents who have consistently supported us."

He concluded, "Jeonnam Province will do its utmost to ensure that the national medical school is established as quickly as possible in the direction desired by our residents."