Why Mokpo is the Optimal Location for Jeonnam’s National Medical University: Insights and Controversies

Establishing a Jeonnam national medical school is about strengthening public healthcare infrastructure, not politics — Mokpo emphasized as the optimal site for the medical school and hospital. Rep. Kim Won also blasts the move as a childish, vote-driven idea.

Kang Seong-hwi, the Democratic Party’s candidate for mayor of Mokpo, on March 17 strongly condemned Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung’s proposal to locate a 100-student national medical school and an affiliated university hospital in Suncheon, and demanded its immediate retraction.

In a statement, Kang said, \”The Jeonnam National Medical School is not a political bargaining chip for a particular area but public healthcare infrastructure directly tied to the lives of people across Jeonnam. To unilaterally reverse agreed plans during an election is extremely dangerous.\”

He stressed that Jeonnam Province, Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University had already reached a broad agreement to establish an integrated university headquarters while placing the medical school at a separate site. He called Mayor Kang’s remarks an irresponsible attempt to overturn that agreement and risk reigniting east–west tensions across Jeonnam.

Kang said, \”Decisions about the medical school and the university hospital must be grounded in law, practical realities and prepared infrastructure—not political slogans. Mokpo University’s Songnim Campus and the Okam medical school site already have land secured that can accommodate both a medical school and a university hospital simultaneously.\”

He added, \”Objectively, Mokpo is clearly the best site. What we need now is administrative decision-making, not politics that inflame conflict.\”

Finally, Kang said, \”Mayor Kang Ki-jung must immediately abandon any political strategy that divides Jeonnam into east and west and apologize to provincial residents. The Ministry of Education should stop delaying and, following on-site inspections, promptly decide to locate the Jeonnam National Medical School and its teaching hospital at Mokpo University and the Okam medical school site.\”

\”Starting the Jeonnam medical school in Mokpo is the only way to close the province-wide healthcare gap,\” he said. \”We will ensure the school is established based on residents’ health and future—not politics.\”

Meanwhile, Rep. Kim Won (Democratic Party, Mokpo) posted on Facebook that Mayor Kang’s proposal appears to be a crude attempt to shake up the political landscape—likely driven by slipping approval ratings—and accused him of proposing a childish plan to split Jeonnam for electoral gain. He demanded that the mayor immediately withdraw the proposal to roll back plans for a Mokpo medical school and a regional Jeonnam medical school, and sincerely apologize to the people of Mokpo and the province.

Mokpo — Reporter Hong Jun-won, namdo6340@viva100.com