“Comprehensive review of medical school selection.”
On September 7, at 7 p.m., Mokpo Peace Square was filled with citizens raising signs that read, ‘Comprehensive review of medical school selection.’ As the sun began to set, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation.
The ‘Mokpo University Medical School Preservation Emergency Committee’ hosted the ‘Total Rally for the Preservation of Mokpo University Medical School,’ which drew an estimated 2,000 residents from the southwestern region of Jeollanam-do.
This gathering was not merely about attracting a university; it reflected a deep-seated concern for the community. Residents of all ages, including those in wheelchairs, seniors, youth, and local stakeholders, came together to demand a thorough re-evaluation of the selection process for the new national medical school.
Above all, the rally encapsulated the 36-year-long aspiration of the southwestern region for a national medical school.
The demand for a national medical school stems from the region's healthcare realities. For residents, the establishment of a medical school and university hospital is not just about expanding educational institutions; it is a matter of ensuring timely treatment for critically ill and emergency patients, addressing the right to life, and reducing healthcare disparities.
Consequently, the recent controversy surrounding the selection results for the new national medical school has not subsided.
In particular, residents and Mokpo University officials argue that the fairness of the evaluation process, the criteria used, and the feasibility of securing land for the university and hospital must be reassessed.
Given that the evaluation results were decided by a narrow margin, there is a call for greater transparency in the detailed evaluation process and scoring criteria, as well as objective verification of the raised concerns.
The demands of the residents gathered in the square echoed this sentiment.
They are not simply asking for the results to be overturned; they seek a fair review of whether the evaluation process was conducted legally and equitably, one that the community can accept after 36 years of waiting.
Signs and banners reading ‘Comprehensive review of medical school selection’ and ‘Stop unfair and unjust evaluations of the national medical school’ were prominently displayed. Residents raised their signs high in response to chants.
Moreover, voices from the southwestern region emphasize that this issue should not be viewed merely as a competition between Mokpo University and other institutions.
If the goal of establishing a national medical school is to improve healthcare access in medically underserved areas and to address regional healthcare imbalances, then it is essential to critically assess which location aligns best with these policy objectives.
It is also crucial to evaluate whether the university can successfully establish a medical school and hospital, and how realistically prepared they are in terms of land, facilities, faculty, and clinical education systems.
Furthermore, Mokpo University and the southwestern community have raised concerns regarding the composition of the evaluation committee, the evaluation methods, land acquisition, and the feasibility of the project, demanding a re-examination of the selection process. Any discrepancies in these claims should be clarified through the disclosure of relevant documents and verification by the appropriate authorities.
Thus, the cries from the Peace Square were increasingly urgent.
Thirty-six years is a long time, enough for a generation to grow into adulthood. Throughout this period, residents of the southwestern region have awaited the establishment of a national medical school, holding onto the hope that one day they would receive adequate care for severe and emergency medical needs.
The demands of the residents who gathered that day ultimately reflect a call for a fair response to their long wait.
The establishment of a national medical school is not a contest determining victory or defeat for any region. If a national medical school is to be funded by taxpayer money, the principles of addressing healthcare vulnerability, improving access, and ensuring the feasibility of establishing educational and hospital facilities must be at the forefront of decision-making.
If evaluations were conducted according to these principles, the government and relevant agencies should transparently explain the rationale. Conversely, if any issues are objectively confirmed in the procedures or evaluation process, it is also the responsibility of the administration to rectify them.
The 2,000 residents gathered at the Peace Square ultimately seek that answer.
“What we want is not special treatment, but a fair opportunity.”
Residents of the southwestern region, who have waited 36 years, took to the streets once more. Whether in wheelchairs, holding signs, or accompanied by family, they all looked in the same direction.
As darkness fell over the Peace Square, the calls for ‘comprehensive review’ grew louder.
At the end of the roar created by the 2,000 participants lay a single, urgent question.
Should the dream of a national medical school, which the residents of southwestern Jeollanam-do have waited 36 years for, end here without even a chance for a fair evaluation?
It is now time for the government and relevant agencies to respond to that question.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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