Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul: "If a Single Medical School Direction is Decided, It Should Be Established at Mokpo University"

A Medical School Must Be Established in the Medically Underserved Western Region of Jeonnam

Park Hong-ryul, mayor of Mokpo City, expressed support for the principle of establishing an integrated medical school in Jeollanam-do but emphasized that if the government decides on a single medical school, a medical college should be established at Mokpo National University in the western region of Jeollanam-do.

On the 18th, Kim Young-rok, governor of Jeollanam-do, held a press conference regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's mention of establishing a national medical school in Jeollanam-do, stating, "We will apply for an integrated medical school based on the integration of Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University."

On the 7th of last month, Mayor Park Hong-ryul delivered a greeting at the citizens' grand debate for attracting a medical school to Jeollanam-do. [Photo by Mokpo City]

In response, Mayor Park said, "I fundamentally agree with Governor Kim Young-rok's promotion of the integrated medical school establishment, but if the government decides on a single medical school policy, a medical college must be established at Mokpo National University in the medically underserved western region of Jeollanam-do."

Mayor Park stated, "Jeollanam-do is the only region among the 16 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide, excluding Sejong City, without a medical college, and it records the highest average medical expenses per capita in the country."

He also explained, "The western region of Jeollanam-do is an area where about 42% of the nation's inhabited islands are concentrated, and it is a medically vulnerable area with a high proportion of elderly population over 65 years old, cancer patients, heart, cerebrovascular, cardiovascular disease patients, and emergency patients."

Furthermore, he revealed, "Due to poor medical infrastructure and lack of personnel, the 'golden time' cannot be secured, and over the past five years, about 1,400 patients have arrived at Jeonnam National University Hospital but have died."

He added, "Because the pain of patients and their families, wasted time, and economic burden are indescribable, the residents of the western region of Jeollanam-do have earnestly wished for the establishment of a medical college for the past 30 years, making the establishment of a medical college in the Mokpo area urgently necessary."

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