Mokpo National University to appeal court dismissal of medical school injunction

Mokpo National University and local political leaders in Mokpo are preparing legal and administrative responses after the Gwangju District Court dismissed an injunction filed to halt the recommendation of Sunchon National University as a candidate for a new national medical school.

The court ruled that the recommendation made by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City to the Ministry of Education was an internal administrative act and did not constitute a formal disposition subject to an administrative lawsuit. However, the court noted that this decision does not address the substantive merits of the evaluation process itself.

Mokpo National University intends to pursue an immediate appeal and will request the Ministry of Education to re-verify the fairness of the selection process. The university has raised concerns regarding land acquisition claims and the application of scoring criteria. Meanwhile, Mokpo City and local lawmakers issued a joint statement expressing disappointment, emphasizing that they will continue to challenge the selection through a main lawsuit and by monitoring the Ministry of Education’s final decision.