Suncheon University has been selected as the sole candidate for the establishment of a national medical school in the Jeonnam and Gwangju region, marking a significant step forward for a long-awaited local initiative. However, celebrations may be premature as the university must still navigate the central government's exemption from preliminary feasibility studies and secure student quotas.
According to local governments and universities on August 31, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Special City announced that Suncheon University scored 89.15 points, narrowly surpassing Mokpo University, which received 87.85 points, by a margin of 1.30 points.
Following the evaluation, the Gwangju City government submitted a proposal to the Education Ministry for a national medical school with a capacity of 100 students. Suncheon University has begun preparations for medical education accreditation, aiming to open by 2030, while local officials in Mokpo have accepted the outcome but are calling for significant compensation measures.
Final Decision Rests with Central Government: How Will Quotas Be Allocated?
With local recommendations complete, the final decision on the establishment of the national medical school now lies with the government. The key issues are the Education Ministry's approval and the Health Ministry's allocation of student quotas.
The government has allocated 100 student slots for the new national medical school, which must be shared between the Gyeongbuk region (including Andong University and POSTECH) and the Jeonnam-Gwangju region (Suncheon University). Whether Suncheon University can secure the full quota of 100 students is a critical factor in the final evaluation.
Additionally, amid ongoing conflicts between the medical community and the government, it remains uncertain whether the new medical school will receive a smooth allocation of student quotas. Suncheon University plans to finalize supplementary documents requested by the Education Ministry, including land issues, as it prepares for the next evaluation.
Suncheon City is working to provide approximately 60,000 square meters of city-owned land in the Joryeong-dong area for the medical school and university hospital.
Disappointment in Southwestern Region: Concerns Over Medical Gaps
Mokpo University, which competed fiercely with Suncheon University, fell short by just 1.3 points, leaving the southwestern region in deep disappointment after 36 years of hope.
The southwestern region is a notable area of medical vulnerability, with 41% of the country's inhabited islands located there. The probability of death due to not reaching a tertiary hospital within the critical three-hour window is as high as 20.7%, highlighting the lack of severe and emergency medical infrastructure.
Local lawmakers and officials from Mokpo issued a joint statement on August 30, expressing their deep regret over the unmet aspirations of southwestern residents and calling for accountability. They emphasized that the government and the integrated special city must not ignore the dire medical realities in the region, urging that all citizens of South Korea deserve equal rights to life and health.
They strongly demanded the establishment of a base hospital with advanced medical capabilities and essential public health infrastructure in the southwestern region.
Collaboration Essential for Medical School Approval: Need for Leadership in Regional Cooperation
Healing the sense of loss in the southwestern region and resolving local conflicts are essential prerequisites for the final approval of the national medical school. Prolonged internal conflicts could significantly weaken the negotiating power and justification of the entire Jeonnam region with the central government. Thus, a unified leadership that transcends winners and losers is crucial.
Suncheon University and the city of Suncheon have also emphasized the importance of cooperation. Lee Byung-woon, president of Suncheon University, stated at a press conference on August 31, "Today is not the end but the beginning," pledging to cultivate essential medical talent in pediatrics, obstetrics, and emergency medicine, and to quickly establish a university hospital to fill the gaps in severe and emergency medical care.
He particularly noted, "While the medical school will be established in Suncheon, its benefits should reach all of Jeonnam and Gwangju," urging the government to ensure that the southwestern region also has a public health infrastructure equivalent to that of a university hospital.
Suncheon Mayor Son Hoon-mo echoed this sentiment, stating, "The time for competition is over; now is the time for responsibility and cooperation," promising to build a medical system that allows both eastern and western regions to develop together.
Ultimately, the key to securing the government's final approval and alleviating concerns in the southwestern region lies in establishing an effective governance structure for medical integration. In this regard, President Lee pledged to collaborate with local medical institutions to complete a regionally integrated medical system, ensuring that all processes are discussed with the integrated special city, local governments, the medical community, and civil society.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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