About 300 community members gathered to pledge support for the university's growth, with the mayor of neighboring Gwangyang drawing particular attention by attending the event.
Suncheon National University, which recently received Ministry of Education approval to establish a medical school and university hospital, held a fundraising gala celebrating its continued development.
The university's third-term development support committee hosted the event Wednesday evening at Ecograd Hotel in Jorye-dong, Suncheon, to thank donors who have contributed to the university's growth and to reaffirm its ambition to become the anchor university of eastern South Jeolla Province following the medical school approval.
Attendees included committee Chairman Kang Moon-sik, university President Lee Byung-woon, Vice President for External Affairs Lee Dong-hee, Suncheon Mayor Son Hun-mo, city council Speaker Yu Young-cheol, accountant Yang Hyo-seok serving as the committee's secretary-general, lawmakers Kim Moon-su and Kwon Hyang-yeop, provincial and city council members, and Kang Myung-su, deputy mayor for industry and economy of the proposed Gwangju-South Jeolla integrated special city.
Also drawing applause was the attendance of Gwangyang Mayor Park Sung-hyun and Gwangyang City Council Speaker Lee Gi-yeon, who joined as a congratulatory delegation from the neighboring city.
Suncheon National University was allocated 60 medical school enrollment spots following the Ministry of Education's final selection on Nov. 4. It plans to open the medical school on a site in Jorye-dong in 2030 and, after completing faculty recruitment, open an affiliated university hospital in 2032.
The third-term development support committee, which has made significant contributions to the university over the past three years, raised a total of about 2.6 billion won ($1.87 million) in donations for the institution.
"When the university thrives, young people stay, and when young people stay, the region thrives," committee Chairman Kang said. "The greatest reward I have gained over the past three years is not the size of the donations, but the chance to share in the hearts of all of you who love this university and care about the future of this region."
President Lee said the long-held dream of a medical school and university hospital — one the region had waited 30 years for — had finally been realized, and that the day was approaching when people would no longer have to leave home when they fell ill. "In 1935, when there was nowhere to study in this land, founder Woo-seok Kim Jong-ik established this school with his own money," Lee said. "That one person's generosity created the Suncheon National University we celebrate today."
The third-term committee pledged to launch a fourth term in the near future to continue rallying support for the university's sustainable development.
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