Mokpo National University Hosts Joint Forum on Establishing Medical Schools at National Universities

Over 60 Attendees Including Presidents and Planning Directors of 5 National Universities

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Mokpo National University (President Song Ha-cheol) announced on the 20th that it jointly held the "Regional Joint Forum for the Establishment of Regional National University Medical Schools to Expand Public Medical Personnel" with Suncheon National University (President Go Young-jin), Kongju National University (President Won Seong-su), Andong National University (President Kwon Soon-tae), and Changwon National University (President Lee Ho-young) at Osong H Hotel Sejong City from 3 PM to 5 PM on the 19th.

The forum was attended by about 60 people including the presidents and planning directors of the five universities. It began with a presentation by Professor Lim Jun of the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Seoul on the "Necessity and Measures for Establishing Regional Public Medical Schools," followed by sharing of each university’s "Policy Research Results Related to Attracting Medical Schools," and concluded with the "Adoption of a Joint Petition."

Director Cha Juhwan of the Planning Office at Mokpo National University is presenting the results of a policy study related to attracting a medical school to Mokpo National University.
[Photo provided by Mokpo National University]

In the presentation of policy research results related to attracting a medical school at Mokpo National University, Planning Director Cha Joo-hwan stated, "Looking at the status of doctors active nationwide, 53% are concentrated in the metropolitan area, with 3 doctors per 1,000 people, but in Gyeongbuk it is 1.4, Chungnam 1.5, and Jeonnam 1.7, which is significantly lower than the national average of 2. Regional public medical institutions are unable to secure adequate personnel, making it difficult to implement national medical policies." He added, "It is urgent to expand the number of doctors by establishing a system to train public health medical personnel who will work in medically vulnerable areas such as rural and fishing villages."

Accordingly, national universities in vulnerable areas have continuously demanded the establishment of medical schools necessary for increasing medical school quotas and fostering regional public medical personnel to eliminate medical disparities between regions and improve the quality of life of local residents.

On this day, the presidents of the five universities, including Mokpo National University President Song Ha-cheol, expressed their aspirations through a joint petition to actively promote various attraction activities based on close cooperation with national universities in medically vulnerable areas nationwide and to fulfill their responsibilities as national universities to improve the quality of life of local residents.

The joint petition titled "Necessity of Establishing National University Medical Schools and Urging the Expansion of Public Medical Services" will be submitted to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

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