Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University — rivals in the competition to attract a medical school to South Jeolla Province — held their respective graduation ceremonies in quick succession.
Suncheon National University held its 2025 fall semester commencement ceremony Tuesday at Wooseok Hall in the university's 70th Anniversary Memorial Hall, conferring degrees on 362 graduates — 29 doctoral, 95 master's and 238 bachelor's.
University President Lee Byeong-un attended alongside senior administrators, faculty, graduates and their families.
The ceremony opened with a performance by the campus acoustic club "Meari," followed by an academic report, remarks from the president, a congratulatory address by alumnus and Assembly member Kim Gwang-jin, an awards presentation for outstanding graduates and the conferral of degrees.
Choi Byeong-chan, a doctoral graduate from the pharmacy department who spoke on behalf of the graduating class, encouraged his fellow graduates, saying, "I hope we move forward with the confidence that we have already done it once and can do it again."
Mokpo National University held its own 2025 fall semester commencement ceremony on Thursday at its 70th Anniversary Memorial Hall, conferring degrees on 339 graduates in total.
Among the recipients were 337 graduates — 196 bachelor's, 115 master's and 26 doctoral — along with two associate degree holders who had originally enrolled at Jeonnam Provincial College before its integration with the university.
Five graduates from Indonesia's Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) under a dual-degree program — four bachelor's and one master's — were also included among the degree recipients.
University President Song Ha-cheol, Alumni Association President Park Mun-ok, ITS Vice President Nurul Widiastuti and People Power Party Unified Special City Party Committee Chair Kim Hwa-jin attended to congratulate the graduates.
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