Medical school contest, why does Suncheon National University ‘distrust’ Jeonnam Province’s contest?

“Why is South Jeolla Province, which has no authority, leading the medical school competition?”

Suncheon National University is expressing strong distrust in Jeollanam-do’s medical school recruitment method.

Suncheon National University is maintaining its previous position (withdrawal of public offering and independent promotion), saying that the province, which does not have authority to decide on medical schools, is only providing unilateral notification without sufficient prior discussion.

According to Suncheon National University on the 25th, President Lee Byung-woon recently openly expressed his distrust of South Jeolla Province at a press conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration.

Suncheon National University cited the following as reasons: △the pan-provincial response committee’s request for personnel composition and list centered on the western region, △unilateral promotion of the Unified Medical School, and △ignoring the withdrawal of the public offering.

Suncheon National University claims that in the process of promoting the pan-provincial response committee, personnel were formed mainly in the western region, including Jeollanam-do and Mokpo University, and requested a list, but was rejected. The question is whether it is possible to guarantee the fairness of the regional public offering process in competition with the western region, which is tied politically and emotionally.

Suncheon National University’s claim is that after President Yoon Seok-yeol said in a public livelihood debate held at the provincial office last month, “Please collect opinions from South Jeolla Province and let us know,” the joint medical school of Suncheon National University and Mokpo University suddenly unilaterally promoted the status as an ‘integrated medical school.’

Suncheon National University is raising questions about the feasibility of an integrated medical school in a situation where integration between universities is difficult.

In particular, Suncheon National University is demanding the withdrawal of the public offering, saying that Jeonnam Province’s attempt to collude with the two universities, even though it has no legal basis or authority for the establishment of a medical school, is only inciting regional conflict.

An official from Suncheon National University said, “Jeonnam Province only needs to collect opinions from both sides and convey them to the government. Why are they trying to select a university through a public contest?” He added, “We need to meet both eastern and western regions to sufficiently collect opinions before proceeding, but we are unilaterally notifying all progress status.” “They are doing it,” he criticized.

Suncheon National University is emphasizing the necessity of △medical demand in the eastern region △lack of medical facilities in preparation for industrial accidents △connection with glocal universities △securing medical land.

As South Jeolla Province is unable to find any other solution other than public offering, attention is being paid to how the ongoing conflict will be resolved.

Some say that Jeollanam-do is once again engaged in ‘one-way communication’ without resolving regional conflicts, as it plans to soon announce the selection of a service provider to be in charge of the public offering and request the government to allocate seats to medical schools.

Choi Young-joo, head of the Jeonnam Province medical school establishment promotion team, said, “There is no other way (other than a public offering),” and added, “We will persuade Suncheon National University to participate in the public offering.”

Director Choi also claimed, “The Pan-Province Countermeasures Committee is a private organization and has never requested a list from Suncheon National University,” and added, “It is not a unilateral push, but most of the opinions have been coordinated with the presidents.”

Director Choi said, “We cannot withdraw the contest. It is unfortunate that regional sentiments are intertwined and conflicting. Currently, the entire Jeollanam-do region must work together to determine the admission quota at the end of May.”

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