국립의전원 장소 논의 본격화…전북 남원, 지역구 의원까지 유치전 총력

The discussion for the location of the National Medical Specialist University (National of Medicine) is now in full swing, with a surge in interest from the region of North Jeolla's Namwon. The province has been actively working to secure the necessary land and infrastructure for the university, with the goal of establishing it in Namwon.

The government has asked for a substantial portion of the estimated land area to be purchased, and has emphasized that the university should be located in Namwon to provide regional and public healthcare services.

On November 19th, the North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province introduced the National Medical Specialist University Preparatory Committee's second meeting, where they discussed the establishment of the university's infrastructure, educational programs, operational systems, and mandatory military service provisions. During this meeting, the infrastructure advisory committee focused on reviewing the location, design, and architectural plans for the National Medical Specialist University.

The government plans to begin reviewing the land and infrastructure for the university from the second half of this year, with a target opening date of 2029. The North Jeolla province has already secured a significant portion of the required land, with 55.1% of the designated area purchased, and a total of 91.8% including the purchase of additional sale agreements.

North Jeolla is also recognized as a region that has been working on attracting public healthcare professionals since the closure of the University of South Jeolla's medical school in 2018.

In support of Namwon as the location for the university, Park Hyuk-shung, a Democratic Party member representing Namwon, has urged the government to address concerns about the possibility of clinical training at Seoul campuses. Park has argued that the National Medical Specialist University should include both educational and clinical training functions in the region, stating that the design of the university can mirror that of other regional medical schools.

He also suggested that the National Medical Specialist University and the planned construction of the National Central Hospital could be relocated to Namwon, offering a comprehensive educational, training, and medical care and research facility in the region.