Mokpo National University Hosts 'Jeollanam-do Balanced Development Grand Debate'

Jointly Hosted by Six Universities Located in the Southwestern Region

Discussion on the Current Situation of Jeollanam-do and Policy Measures for Regional Balanced Development

National Mokpo University (President Song Ha-cheol) announced on the 7th that it held the "Jeollanam-do Balanced Development Grand Debate" at 2:30 PM on the 5th in the Convention Hall of Mokpo University Namak Campus to seek policy measures for regional balanced development.

Co-hosted by six universities located in the southwestern region of Jeollanam-do?National Mokpo University, National Mokpo Maritime University, Dongshin University, Mokpo Catholic University, Sehan University, and Chodang University?the debate was attended by about 200 people including university presidents, local government heads, members of the National Assembly, related organizations, and local residents. The event diagnosed the current situation of the Jeonnam region and discussed policy measures for regional balanced development.

President Song Ha-cheol of National Mokpo University is delivering a welcome speech ahead of the forum. [Photo by Mokpo University]

The debate began with a welcoming speech by President Song Ha-cheol of Mokpo University, followed by congratulatory remarks from Myung Chang-hwan, Vice Governor of Jeollanam-do, Kim Hwa-jin, Chairman of the People Power Party Jeonnam Provincial Committee, and Koo Yoon-chul, former Chief Secretary for Policy Coordination. Then, all the hosting university presidents gave opening remarks, followed by keynote presentations and panel discussions.

Vice Governor Myung Chang-hwan said in his congratulatory speech, "The beginning of balanced development must be Jeonnam, and its completion must be the southwestern region centered on Mokpo. We hope many excellent policy alternatives to promote balanced development in Jeonnam will be presented, and we will strive to actively reflect them in provincial administration."

In the opening remarks, university presidents and vice presidents including Park Jong-gu of Chodang University, Han Won-hee of Mokpo Maritime University, Kim Yong-woon of Mokpo Catholic University, Song Kyung-yong, Vice President for External Cooperation of Dongshin University, and Yang Bok-wan, Vice President of Sehan University, emphasized that universities, as centers of innovation, must enhance the competitiveness of local industries and increase their influence for regional balanced development.

In the keynote presentation, Professor Jang Sung-man of Mokpo University diagnosed that "the southwestern region of Jeonnam, where Mokpo University is located, has fewer jobs relative to the economically active population, and medical and welfare services are poor, resulting in a relatively lower quality of life for residents compared to other regions. To improve this, measures to reduce disparities in medical and welfare services are necessary."

They are taking a commemorative photo after the Jeollanam-do Balanced Development Grand Debate jointly hosted by universities in the southwestern region of Jeonnam.
[Photo by Mokpo National University]

In the following presentation, Lee Min-won, former Chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee and Honorary Professor at Gwangju University, emphasized the need for active attraction of large corporations utilizing regional resources in the southwestern region through the government's opportunity development special zone contest project.

The panel discussion featured participants including Jang Jong-hoe, CEO of Maeil Business Newspaper (chair), Shin Dae-woon, Chairman of the Decentralization and Autonomy Research Institute, Lee Dong-geon, Director of Planning and Coordination at Mokpo Maritime University, Professor Kim Chun-sik of Dongshin University, Professor Jung Ki-young of Sehan University, and Jung Haeng-jun, Director of the Student Success Promotion Center at Chodang University. They presented various opinions on the role of universities for balanced development in Jeonnam and engaged in a lively discussion.

President Song Ha-cheol said, "Due to population decline and concentration in the metropolitan area, the region is heading toward extinction. We plan to create ongoing opportunities to discuss the role of universities in regional balanced development with experts through this debate." He added, "Universities will lead innovation and work together with local governments for regional development."

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