Mokpo Maritime University Removes 'Mokpo' from Its Name

Final Approval to Change Name to ‘Haeyang National University’ at Full Faculty Meeting

‘Mokpo Maritime University’ Name Disappears into History... Local Community Expected to Oppose

Students in uniform are saluting at the main gate of Mokpo National Maritime University. (Photo by Mokpo National Maritime University)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Mokpo National Maritime University has confirmed the change of its name to ‘National Maritime University,’ excluding ‘Mokpo’.

On the 29th at 10 a.m., Mokpo National Maritime University held a full faculty meeting, placing the name selection review on the agenda, and decided this by a final majority vote.

Accordingly, Mokpo National Maritime University plans to submit an application for the name change to the Ministry of Education, attaching previous survey results and meeting materials.

In the future, the Ministry of Education will ask universities nationwide for their opinions on the name change, and if there are no objections, the name change will be approved.

Earlier, on the 8th, Mokpo National Maritime University held a vote with 71 out of 120 professors attending (49 absent), resulting in 68 votes in favor, 11 against, and 2 abstentions, deciding to proceed with the name change.

A university official explained the reason for the name change as follows: “Due to the decline in the school-age population and university quota adjustments, it has become difficult to attract students, and financial support from the government and local governments is insufficient. Under the current name including the regional name, it is difficult to overcome these limitations, so we decided to change it.”

He added, “The name change is by no means because we dislike the region of Mokpo, but because we want the region and the university to coexist. We ask the local residents and political circles to help so that a world-class maritime university can be established in Mokpo.”

However, opposition from the local community is expected regarding the exclusion of the ‘Mokpo’ regional name from the university name.

Recently, Mokpo City opposed the change, stating, “Pursuing a name change that excludes Mokpo is unacceptable for a national university that has a role in regional development and causes great damage to the pride of Mokpo citizens.”

The city council also demanded, “Mokpo National Maritime University should withdraw the name change plan and create a public forum through a credible institution,” but this was not accepted.

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