Suncheon National University to get medical school, but how will the southwest be appeased?

The establishment of a medical school at Suncheon National University has been confirmed, ending a prolonged dispute — but attention is now turning to how authorities plan to soothe public anger in the southwest, particularly in Mokpo, whose university was passed over.

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City issued a statement Wednesday saying it would "soon announce a southwest transformation plan, including the expansion of university hospital-level medical infrastructure, for universities and regions that were not selected."

Earlier, the integrated city formed a southwest development strategy TF on Sept. 8, headed by Deputy Mayor for Administrative and Cultural Affairs Hwang Ki-yeon.

The TF is organized into four working groups covering healthcare system development, regional growth, social overhead capital and residential environment improvements, and university support, all aimed at preparing a comprehensive development plan for the southwest.

The integrated city is planning what it calls a "medical center transformation" — transferring operational control of the Mokpo Medical Center, currently run by the city of Mokpo, to the integrated city government.

The plan also calls for strengthening the public healthcare foundation in the southwest by operating the medical center at the metropolitan government level, and for building a new 500-bed general hospital comparable in scale to a university teaching hospital.

To improve healthcare access for residents of outlying islands, the city is also reviewing plans to increase dedicated staffing at community health posts, establish a collaborative care network linked to university hospital-level medical institutions, and introduce prescription drug delivery services.

For Mokpo National University, which was eliminated from the medical school review, the integrated city is considering establishing a law school there and plans to present the proposal to the university before consulting with the Ministry of Education and other government ministries.

Drawing on the TF's work, the integrated city plans to gather input from residents and experts before announcing what it calls a "Southwest Great Leap Initiative" — a comprehensive development strategy encompassing healthcare, higher education and regional growth.