Unified medical school talks deadline nears; Mokpo proposes compromise, Suncheon's stance awaited

National Mokpo University has put forward a compromise proposal to resolve the dispute over the location of a unified medical school, suggesting that the integrated university headquarters be situated at Suncheon University. With only two days remaining before the negotiation deadline, the response from Suncheon University is highly anticipated. Mokpo University President Song Ha-cheol announced the proposal at a press conference, reaffirming the plan for one medical school and two hospitals. He stated, "Regarding the proposal from the (Jeonnam Gwangju Special City) 인수위원회, the location of the integrated university headquarters, which Suncheon University members were most concerned about, will be in Suncheon. The medical school will be located in Mokpo."

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Mokpo University will pursue one medical school and two university hospitals. Furthermore, regarding the proposal from the (Jeonnam Gwangju Special City) 인수위원회, the location of the integrated university headquarters, which Suncheon University members were most concerned about, will be in Suncheon. The medical school will be located in Mokpo.

Previously, Suncheon University rejected a proposal on July 13 that would have placed the medical school's basic medical education and the integrated university headquarters in Mokpo, while establishing a university hospital in Suncheon and conducting clinical education for the third and fourth years of medical school there. Mokpo University's latest offer includes establishing integrated university headquarters on both campuses, effectively giving Suncheon the role of 'headquarters' for this aspect. Mokpo also proposed operating both a medical school campus in Mokpo and a medical school campus in Suncheon after initially starting medical education in Mokpo.

Song Ha-cheol cited the example of Chonnam National University's medical school, which, despite being a single entity, designates its Hakdong and Hwasun hospitals as the Hakdong and Hwasun campuses, respectively. This system allows for both clinical and basic medical education at each campus. Suncheon University was reportedly reviewing Mokpo's proposal in a meeting held later that day. However, expectations are low that Suncheon will easily accept the offer, as the core element of Mokpo's current proposal, the location of the integrated university headquarters, was discussed in a prior negotiation on July 27 but was not agreed upon by Suncheon.

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Chonnam National University's medical school, for example, is a single medical school, but its Hakdong University Hospital and Hwasun University Hospital are named Hakdong Campus and Hwasun Campus of the medical school, respectively, and have a system that allows for clinical education as well as basic medical education.

The Ministry of Education plans to receive applications for medical school quotas in August, requiring both universities to submit their integrated university application to the ministry by the end of July. If Suncheon University rejects Mokpo's proposal, the integration and the establishment of the medical school may fall through. Min Hyung-bae, the mayor, urged both universities to make a "magnanimous decision."

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We hope that both Mokpo University and Suncheon University will make a magnanimous decision.