Kim Byung-won Preliminary Candidate: "Transform Hwasun into a 'Biomedical EduCity'"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Kim Byung-won, a preliminary candidate for the National Assembly representing Naju·Hwasun, Jeollanam-do from the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on the 23rd, “We will establish a provincial biomedical university and a biomedical specialized high school linked with Chonnam National University College of Medicine to cultivate medical professionals and build an R&D foundation, making Hwasun the best biomedical edu-city in South Korea.”

Preliminary candidate Kim Byung-won stated, “This blueprint will be structured with the already announced policy pledges such as the bio-industry hub institution, bio-health convergence knowledge center, and biopharmaceutical industry belt, driving explosive synergy effects.”

The tentatively named provincial biomedical university will function as a cradle of biomedical sciences by nurturing talents with expertise in various fields related to the bio-industry medical cluster that Hwasun possesses, while conducting experiments, industry-academia joint research, and technology transfer to industries.

The biomedical university plans to open necessary departments reflecting the global biomedical environment. It will cover essential engineering fields for medical equipment, vaccine and drug development, including pharmaceutical sciences, biology, genetic engineering, and biomedical engineering.

Additionally, it will foster competitive herbal medicine specialists through practical, field-centered education combining cultivation, production, quality standardization, and laboratory practice of various herbal medicine resources related to Hwasun’s biopharmaceutical industry, such as medicinal plants.

The biomedical university is expected to lead research and development of pharmaceuticals using herbal medicines and mass production of useful substances applying biotechnology. It is also anticipated to become a platform for cultivating experts related to medicinal cuisine, which Hwasun County is strategically promoting.

The biomedical specialized high school will pursue both a plan for new establishment as a public institution and conversion of existing local high schools into biomedical high schools. Curriculums including health nursing, dental hygiene, health management, and medical tourism will be offered to build a well-structured education system supporting the biomedical field.

He said, “After extensive consultation with the local community, we will present effective measures through step-by-step procedures such as forming a ‘Biomedical University and Biomedical High School Establishment Committee’ and coordinating with related organizations. Furthermore, we plan to actively consider establishing a medical artificial intelligence center and building related infrastructure like a global biomedical forum.”

He added, “We will seek various measures such as establishing or renovating small libraries throughout the city to help cultivate the emotional well-being of residents and ensuring stable operation of local children’s centers by ▲national funding support for operating and labor costs ▲improving treatment of workers ▲abolishing discriminatory restrictions on children users and their families.”

He emphasized, “We will build a multipurpose indoor gymnasium and a community sports baseball field to take responsibility for residents’ health and revitalize the local economy by attracting training teams. Additionally, we plan to create a Hwasun-type lifelong education system in preparation for the centenarian era, making Hwasun a space with the best living conditions in various fields such as treatment, healing, and education.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.