Will a National Medical School Be Established in Chungnam, Where Traveling Outside the Province to Give Birth Has Become a Reality?

Governor Kim Taeheum:
"We Will End the Reality Where Residents Cannot Find Emergency Rooms
Through the Establishment of a National Medical School"

On the 14th, Kim Taeheum, governor of Chungnam Province, stated at the "Event for the Necessity of Establishing a National Medical School" held at Chungnam Library, "We will definitely achieve the establishment of a national medical school hospital." / Chungnam Province

"We will put an end to the reality where women must travel outside the province to give birth due to the lack of obstetrics and gynecology departments, and where medical refugees wander in search of emergency rooms they cannot find."

The anger and desperation of Chungnam residents seeking to change the province's poor medical environment have pushed the province-wide petition for the establishment of a medical school past one million signatures.

The province-wide signature campaign calling for the establishment of a national medical school at Kongju National University is gaining momentum, putting pressure on the government and political circles.

On August 14, at a promotional event for the necessity of establishing a national medical school held at Chungnam Library, the Chungnam provincial government announced that the petition had surpassed one million signatures.

About 300 people attended the event, including Governor Kim Taeheum, Kongju National University President Lim Kyungho, Yesan County Mayor Choi Jaegu, members of the province-wide promotion committee, and representatives of local civic groups, all strongly appealing for the need to establish a medical school.

Governor Kim said, "The earnest desire of Chungnam residents to have a national medical school in the province has been proven by one million signatures," adding, "Now the government and political circles must take this seriously."

He emphasized, "There are countless heartbreaking stories of women having to give birth elsewhere because there are no obstetrics and gynecology departments, and of medical refugees wandering in search of emergency care. The establishment of a national medical school is not simply a local issue, but a national task directly tied to the right to life of the province's residents."

The anger and desperation of the residents to change the poor medical environment in Chungnam have surpassed one million signatures in the province-wide petition for the establishment of a medical school. / Chungnam Province

According to the province, Chungnam has 1.5 doctors per 1,000 people, far below the national average of 2.1, ranking 15th out of 17 metropolitan and provincial regions.

Moreover, with more than half (54.9%) of local medical school graduates leaving for the Seoul metropolitan area, the gap in local healthcare services continues to widen.

Since its launch in December 2023, the province and the province-wide promotion committee have carried out both online and offline signature campaigns. Building on this achievement, they plan to work with Kongju National University and Yesan County to persuade the government and National Assembly, hold policy consultations, and launch nationwide public awareness campaigns.

Governor Kim stated, "Once the national medical school opens, talented individuals will flock to Chungnam and the medical infrastructure will be dramatically strengthened. We will ensure everything from securing student quotas to establishing a national university hospital is achieved."

The anger and desperation of the residents to change the poor medical environment in Chungnam have surpassed one million signatures in the provincial-wide petition for the establishment of a medical school. Chungnam Province

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