Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University 'University Integration' Community Briefing Session

On the afternoon of the 11th, Mokpo National University (President Song Hacheol) held a community briefing session on the theme of university integration and the attraction of a medical school at the Glocal Startup 1st floor auditorium on the Namak Campus, the university announced on the 12th.

With about 200 local residents in attendance, the briefing shared the vision and plans to contribute to the local community through university integration and the establishment of a medical school.

In his opening remarks, President Song Hacheol said, “The integration of universities and the attraction of a medical school is an important step to address the era’s challenges of resolving the medical disparity between the eastern and western parts of Jeonnam and overcoming the crisis of local universities due to the declining school-age population.” He added, “This briefing session is significant as a communication platform to listen to various opinions from the local community and reflect them.” He also requested cooperation, saying, “We will resolve conflicts between the two regions and find a method that satisfies everyone.”

Song Hacheol, President of Mokpo National University, is delivering the opening address at a community briefing on university integration and attracting a medical school, held in the main auditorium on the first floor of the Glocal Startup building at the Naman Campus. Photo by Mokpo National University

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Following this, Cha Juhwan, Director of Planning at Mokpo National University, explained the progress and key points of the university integration promotion. Director Cha stated, “Once the two universities integrate, it will grow into a large-scale regional national university based on nine campuses and will greatly contribute to the development of specialized industries in the eastern and western parts of Jeonnam.” He explained, “Through the establishment of a medical school and the attraction of a university hospital, we will eliminate medical blind spots in the region and significantly improve medical welfare in Jeonnam.”

He also emphasized, “By integrating with Jeonnam Provincial College, we will establish the nation’s first system linking two-year and four-year programs to train functional and technical personnel, playing a pivotal role in nurturing local talent.”

During the Q&A session, attendees asked questions about the location of the medical school, operational directions after university integration, and cooperation plans with the local community. In response, President Song said, “Mokpo National University is already prepared to immediately start designing by utilizing the Yonghae-dong campus,” and “the foundation for attracting a medical school is already in place.” He added, “We will leverage the active support and participation of the residents as a driving force to establish university hospitals in both regions and seek ways to minimize conflicts between the regions.”

In his closing remarks, President Song said, “Today’s briefing was a meaningful first step toward university integration and attracting a medical school,” and “We will strive to grow our university into a representative regional national university for the region and the nation together with local residents. We ask for your continued interest and support.”

Meanwhile, Mokpo National University plans to submit the university integration application to the Ministry of Education by the end of this year, aiming for the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s allocation of medical school quotas in February next year and the Ministry of Education’s approval of university integration in April. The university will continue to communicate closely with the local community and steadily advance plans for university integration and the attraction of a medical school.

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