Assemblyman Kim Moon-soo Urgently Calls for Strategy Shift to Attract Medical School to Suncheon National University

0% Chance of Hosting if Not Participating in Jeonnam Public Contest

Kim Moon-soo, Member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye Gap), urged an immediate strategic shift to attract the medical school to Suncheon National University.

He stated that not participating in the Jeollanam-do public contest procedure at this stage is essentially an act that reduces the possibility of attracting the medical school to Suncheon National University to 0%.

r[Photo by Kim Moonsu, Office of the Assemblyman]

Recently, Assemblyman Kim emphasized, "If we participate in the Jeollanam-do public contest, the probability of attracting the medical school to Suncheon National University can significantly increase."

He analyzed that if Jeollanam-do selects a single medical school, the probability of attraction rises to 50%, and if Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University establish a joint medical school or if both universities establish their own medical schools, the probability increases to over 66%.

Regarding this, Assemblyman Kim pointed out, "It is like an athlete aiming for a gold medal at the Olympics who does not participate in the preliminaries but only expects the finals," adding, "If we do not participate in the public contest procedure, attracting the medical school is impossible."

He also added, "Key government officials, including the President, have consistently emphasized the importance of the public contest procedure for establishing new medical schools and have stated that universities not participating in the contest will not be given opportunities."

In fact, President Yoon Suk-yeol stated at a public discussion held at the Jeonnam Provincial Office in March regarding Jeollanam-do’s proposal for a national medical school, "If Jeonnam-do decides and gathers opinions to inform us, we will proceed," and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also promised, "If opinions are gathered and applications are made according to procedures, we will review them promptly."

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong and Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho also reiterated this stance, emphasizing the importance of the Jeollanam-do public contest procedure.

Especially at the "3rd Public Hearing for the Establishment of a National Medical School in Jeonnam" held in Suncheon City, Jeonnam on August 9, the position that "universities not participating in the contest cannot be evaluated" was clearly reaffirmed regarding Suncheon National University’s non-participation.

Assemblyman Kim warned, "It is unrealistic to expect to attract a medical school while ignoring the government’s public contest procedure, which holds the decision-making power," and added, "If Suncheon National University does not participate in the contest, it cannot avoid responsibility for the failure to attract the medical school, which will result in the residents of the eastern region of Jeonnam and the citizens of Suncheon losing the opportunity to receive better medical services."

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Kim proposed the joint attraction of a medical school by Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University or the establishment of separate medical schools at both universities as a win-win alternative.

On August 8, at the National Assembly Education Committee plenary session, he told Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho, "The government will also review this in a way that fully respects regional opinions."

He explained that once opinions are gathered in Jeonnam Province, the government could consider not only a single medical school but also a joint medical school or the establishment of medical schools at both universities.

Assemblyman Kim emphasized, "However, consensus on the selection criteria for the public contest project is absolutely necessary, and Jeollanam-do, Suncheon City, and Suncheon National University must take the lead to ensure that various proposals, including a single medical school, a joint medical school, Suncheon National University’s general medical school, or the establishment of Suncheon National University’s general medical school and Mokpo National University’s public medical school, can be discussed and presented."

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