School Authorities Face Backlash from Citizens Over Preference Survey for School Name Change

Photo of Mokpo National Maritime University viewed from Yudalsan Mountain Photo by Seunghyun Jeong

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] As the National Mokpo Maritime University maintains its position to exclude ‘Mokpo’ from its name, citizens have expressed their affection for preserving the current name.

Recently, related articles and posts titled ‘Mokpo Maritime University Name Change’ have been circulating on local social networks, increasing public opposition.

Mokpo citizen Nam Eunjae said, “The Maritime University, which has grown alongside Mokpo, abandoning the regional name is equivalent to discarding a school brand that has been preserved for over 70 years,” adding, “Since Mokpo’s symbolism as the nation’s first natural harbor aligns well with maritime studies, rather than simply considering the regional name, growing it as a brand itself might be the future for the school’s development.”

Nam also criticized, “Mokpo has achieved growth based on the development foundation of fisheries and heavy industry, fostering organic development with the Maritime University, but if the region is abandoned and only a new name is insisted upon, it will be difficult to create further developmental value.”

An alumnus of Mokpo Maritime University, Mr. A, stated, “The university has proudly referenced Mokpo and Yudalsan even in its school anthem, so changing the name simply because it is difficult to recruit new students is incomprehensible even by common sense,” and warned, “If the name change is forcibly carried out as is, the likelihood of Mokpo citizens’ children enrolling in the Maritime University will decrease.”

Meanwhile, the university, which opened in April 1950 as Mokpo Fisheries and Merchant Marine School and grew into a national university representing the region under the current name ‘Mokpo Maritime University’ in 1994, has recently maintained the position that the current name should be replaced to address the decline in new students and to enhance the school’s brand and image.

However, with local public opinion opposing the name change, Mokpo City also gathered citizens’ opinions and delivered a letter of opposition to the university on the 21st regarding the name change.

The city emphasized, “Mokpo Maritime University is a competitive domestic specialized university that produces experts in maritime and marine fields and is a source of pride and honor for the people of Mokpo,” adding, “Pursuing a name change that excludes ‘Mokpo’ is unacceptable for a national university with a role in regional development and deeply wounds the pride of Mokpo citizens.”

The city continued, “We hope to preserve the name of Mokpo Maritime University, and if the name must be changed, it should include ‘Mokpo.’ We urge the establishment of a public forum using a credible institution to discuss the name change and to collect and reflect opinions from various social groups to prevent conflicts within the community.”

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