The fallout from the decision to exclude Mokpo National University from the list of candidates for a new national medical school is spreading among university members and the local community. Following the university president's resignation and the resignation of other officials, students are demanding transparency in the selection process, calling for the release of evaluation materials and a review of the decision.
On September 1, the student council issued a statement titled "Condemning Secret Evaluations and Political Irresponsibility," expressing strong regret over the selection results for the new national medical school in Gwangju, Jeonnam.
The student council criticized the Gwangju city government's decision on August 30 to recommend Suncheon National University as the sole candidate, stating, "The mere 1.30-point difference has effectively dashed the hopes of residents in the southwest region and the members of Mokpo National University who have waited 36 years for this opportunity."
Students emphasized the need to verify whether the evaluation process and procedures were sufficiently transparent, going beyond mere disappointment with the results.
The council argued, "Presenting only the 1.30-point difference without disclosing detailed scoring criteria undermines procedural legitimacy. We must ascertain whether the local government's rapid evaluation process has the necessary objectivity and fairness to determine a 36-year-long regional aspiration."
They demanded that the Gwangju city government fully disclose detailed scores for each evaluation criterion, the evaluation standards, the list of judges, and meeting minutes.
Students are particularly concerned because the establishment of a national medical school is not just an academic issue but directly relates to addressing healthcare disparities in the southwest region of Jeonnam.
One student remarked, "Considering the 36 years of waiting that has been passed down from previous generations, I feel a deep sense of disappointment as a student. We should not view this merely as a competition between universities but should reflect on why there has been a long-standing demand for a medical school in the southwest region."
Another student added, "If the decision was made based on a 1.30-point difference, shouldn't there be a more detailed disclosure of which criteria were evaluated so that students and local residents can understand? Before asking us to accept the results, there needs to be a thorough explanation of the evaluation process."
The student council also urged local politicians to respond responsibly.
They stated, "Residents of the southwest region have been demanding the establishment of a national medical school for decades, but we must reflect on how actively the local political sphere has addressed the fundamental issue of healthcare disparities. There needs to be practical policy alternatives to mediate conflicts between local governments and protect healthcare access in the southwest region."
In their statement, the student council outlined demands for: detailed disclosure of evaluation scores and criteria, the list of judges and meeting minutes, responsible explanations and review procedures for the selection process, and practical measures from local politicians to ensure healthcare access in the southwest region.
The students' concerns are particularly focused on the significance of the 36-year timeline. The demand for a national medical school in Mokpo and the southwest region has been ongoing long before the current students were born, and this selection has placed it at a critical juncture.
The student council asserted, "The establishment of a national medical school is an issue that transcends the interests of a specific university; it concerns the rights to life and healthcare for residents in the southwest region." They indicated that if their demands are not met, they will join forces with the local community to take action.
A student from Mokpo National University stated, "What we want is not just to overturn the results, but at the very least, we need to understand the criteria and processes that led to this 36-year wait. Transparent explanations that students can accept and local residents can understand are necessary."
The student council's statement highlights that the backlash against the medical school selection results is extending beyond the university administration and local politicians to the student body. The future of this controversy will depend on whether the detailed evaluation materials are released and how the Gwangju city government and local politicians respond.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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