Jeonnam-Gwangju to recommend candidate for new national medical school

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City has announced plans to select and recommend a single candidate university for the establishment of a new national medical school by August 30. This follows a request from the Ministry of Education for a unified recommendation after the proposed merger between Mokpo National University and Sunchon National University failed to reach an agreement regarding the location of the medical school and hospital.

Two universities, Mokpo National University and Sunchon National University, are competing for the selection. Mokpo National University emphasizes the poor medical environment in the southwestern region and its readiness to open by March 2030. Sunchon National University highlights the large population in the eastern region, including Suncheon, Yeosu, and Gwangyang, and its potential to expand medical services to neighboring areas.

The selection process will involve receiving applications by August 28, followed by expert evaluations including document reviews, presentations, and field inspections conducted through the Jeonnam Research Institute. To manage potential regional conflicts, the city is considering requiring both universities to sign a commitment to abide by the final evaluation results. The government has allocated 100 seats for the new medical school, with a target opening date of 2030.