Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Leads Joint Statement of Provincial Governors on 'Expanding Regional Public Healthcare'

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, led the adoption of the ‘Joint Statement of Provincial Governors for the Expansion of Regional Public Medical Infrastructure and Medical Workforce.’

According to Jeonnam Province on the 26th, Governor Kim attended the 48th General Assembly of the Korea Association of Provincial Governors held at the Local Autonomy Hall in Sejong City on the same day.

The agreement on the joint statement to expand regional public medical services, including the establishment of a national medical school in the Jeonnam region, is evaluated to have been effective because Governor Kim persistently persuaded and requested the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam, the only province nationwide without a medical college.

In July last year, the government effectively announced the ‘Establishment of a National Medical School’ in Jeonnam, and Jeonnam Province also expressed a welcoming stance. However, progress stalled due to COVID-19.

Amid these difficulties, Governor Kim continuously raised awareness of the necessity to establish a national medical school in Jeonnam and maintained constant communication with stakeholders including the government, medical community, National Assembly, local governments, and social organizations.

As a result, a consensus was formed on the expansion of regional public medical services and the need to establish a medical school.

With this joint statement at the provincial governors’ association level, it is expected that the establishment of the Jeonnam National Medical School will gain momentum in discussions at the medical policy council to be held after November.

Governor Kim emphasized, “Each region should have a medical school,” and added, “Along with establishing regional medical schools, we need to strengthen the public medical system by introducing public clinical professor systems at local medical centers.”

He also proposed, “The joint declaration for hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the southern coastal and southern central regions should be adopted at the provincial governors’ association level, and we should request the government to expand national support for local rivers.”

At the general assembly held that day, Yoon Soon-jin, co-chairman of the Presidential 2050 Carbon Neutrality Committee launched in May, presented the ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality Scenario.’

Regarding this, Governor Kim said, “Alternative renewable energy is necessary to achieve net zero carbon neutrality by 2050,” and added, “Currently, green hydrogen is being imported from abroad, but to replace this with domestically produced green hydrogen, a firm government commitment to support domestic production is needed.”

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