Jeonnam Province Welcomes Allocation of 100 Seats for National Medical School: "Opening Must Be in 2028"

Kim Youngrok Stresses "Golden Hour for Residents' Lives"
Says Government's 2030 Opening Is Too Late

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, welcomed the deliberation of allocating 100 seats for the national medical school at Jeonnam Integrated University during the 4th meeting of the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. He also requested that the school open in 2028 to ensure the lives and safety of local residents.

On January 22, Governor Kim stated, "This is the government's firm commitment and clear promise not to leave Jeonnam as the only region in the country without a medical school and to address the medical service gap. I would like to express my gratitude to the government."

However, he pointed out, "The government's proposed opening year of 2030 is too late considering the realities of Jeonnam. The province has many islands and mountainous areas, making access to medical services difficult, and has a high proportion of elderly residents. Yet, due to insufficient medical infrastructure, residents are unable to receive timely treatment in emergency or critical situations and are forced to seek care in other regions."

He added, "The national medical school at Jeonnam Integrated University will be the key solution to training and retaining doctors in Jeonnam, addressing gaps in emergency and essential medical services, and establishing a reliable medical foundation for residents. It will also serve as a central pillar for building a comprehensive regional medical system in the era of Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration."

Governor Kim further requested, "Considering the urgent needs of Jeonnam's medical field, please move up the opening of the national medical school at Jeonnam Integrated University to 2028." He emphasized, "We will work closely with Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University to ensure the successful opening of the school in 2028 without any setbacks."