Jeonnam Provincial Council's Large-Scale Rally in Seoul Urges Establishment of Jeonnam National Medical University

"Expanding Medical School Quotas Without Establishing New Medical Schools Ignores Jeonnam's Medical Reality"

The government is reportedly set to announce a plan to expand medical school quotas without establishing new medical schools, prompting Jeonnam provincial assembly members to hold a rally demanding the establishment of a national medical school in the Jeonnam region.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly on the 18th, the Jeonnam Medical School Attraction Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall at 1 p.m. that day, followed by a rally in front of the War Memorial near the Yongsan Presidential Office, where about 500 people gathered to demand the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam Province.

Jeonnam Provincial Assembly members held a rally at the National Assembly and the Yongsan War Memorial to urge the establishment of a 'National Medical School' in the Jeonnam region. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Assembly

At the National Assembly press conference, 10 people including Seo Dong-wook, chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly; National Assembly members Shin Jeong-hoon, Kim Won-i, and So Byung-chul; co-chairmen Choi Seon-guk and Shin Min-ho; and Kang Pil-gu, chairman of the Jeonnam City and County Council Chairpersons Association, stated, “The demand for the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam, which has continued for over 30 years, stems from the reality that the essential and public healthcare infrastructure in Jeonnam is weak, threatening the health rights of residents.”

They raised their voices, saying, “The government, which has pledged to strengthen essential and public healthcare infrastructure and establish a regionally complete emergency medical system, was expected to confirm the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam, the only region nationwide without a medical school. However, hearing that ‘establishment of new medical schools’ was omitted from the medical school quota expansion plan, we cannot help but feel devastated.”

They added, “Expanding medical school quotas alone cannot resolve the medical disparity in Jeonnam nor prevent the collapse of essential and public healthcare systems. Considering Jeonnam’s characteristics, where industrial complexes are aging with frequent industrial accidents and many islands require every second to count in emergency medical care, the government and National Assembly must promptly process the bill to establish a national medical school in Jeonnam.”

Following this, in front of the War Memorial near the Yongsan Presidential Office, about 500 related personnel appealed to President Yoon Seok-yeol to promptly decide on the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam.

The rally was hosted by Chairman Choi Seon-guk, featuring supportive remarks for the establishment of the Jeonnam national medical school by National Assembly members and key participants, a plea statement by Chairman Shin Min-ho, a slogan chant led by the president of Mokpo National University, and the delivery of the plea statement.

Chairman Shin Min-ho appealed, “The medical reality in Jeonnam, which lacks a medical school and a tertiary general hospital, is on the brink of collapse, and 17 out of 22 cities and counties in Jeonnam are vulnerable emergency medical areas.”

He continued, “As Jeonnam has entered a super-aged society, medical demand is rapidly increasing, but due to poor medical conditions, 830,000 residents annually travel outside the region for medical treatment, resulting in an outflow of medical expenses amounting to 1.6 trillion won. Establishing a medical school is an urgent reality.”

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