Lee Gaeho Urges Fast-Track Process for Establishing National Medical School in South Jeolla

South Jeolla, the Only Region Without a Medical School Among 17 Provinces
Collapse of Local Healthcare... Assessed as "Disaster Level"
School Could Open by 2027 if Ministry Decides
Calls for Ultra-Fast Administrative Procedures

Lee Gaeho

Lee Gaeho, a National Assembly member from the Democratic Party of Korea representing Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong in South Jeolla Province, stated during the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare on October 14 that "the medical situation in South Jeolla, which is the only one among the 17 metropolitan and provincial regions nationwide without a medical school, has surpassed a crisis level and reached a state of disaster." He urged, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare must push forward the establishment of a national medical school in South Jeolla on a fast-track basis."

Assemblyman Lee pointed out, "In South Jeolla, the rate of critically ill emergency patients being transferred to other regions is 51.2%, which is 2.5 times the national average of 19.9%. The rate of accessing emergency medical centers within 60 minutes is only 55.0%." He further noted, "The number of public health doctors has plummeted from 637 to 477 in just five years, accelerating the collapse of public healthcare in the region."

He continued, "Twenty out of twenty-two cities and counties in the province are classified as at risk of extinction, and the rate of accessing advanced general hospitals within 180 minutes is only 53.8%, far below the national average of 72.2%." He emphasized, "The shortage of medical personnel caused by the absence of a medical school is effectively paralyzing the medical system in South Jeolla."

Assemblyman Lee reiterated, "The establishment of a national medical school in South Jeolla has already been included as a key national policy task of the Lee Jaemyung administration, and if the Ministry of Health and Welfare makes a decision, it is fully possible to open the school by 2027." He urged again, "A fast-track process should be introduced to expedite the establishment of the medical school, simultaneously conducting the preliminary feasibility study, site selection, and securing of the budget."

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