Suncheon National University [Herald DB]
Suncheon National University [Herald DB]

The South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City announced Sunday that it has selected Suncheon National University as its candidate for a new national medical school.

The city received applications from both Mokpo University and Suncheon National University on Friday. A panel of reviewers selected by the South Jeolla Research Institute then evaluated the two universities' plans at an undisclosed location in Seoul and reached the decision.

The Ministry of Education had originally asked North Gyeongsang Province — with Gyeonguk University — and the South Jeolla-Gwangju area — with Mokpo University and Suncheon National University — to submit plans for establishing a national medical school by Aug. 20. The South Jeolla-Gwangju side submitted only a letter of opinion, however, as the two universities failed to agree on the location of the proposed medical school.

The ministry then asked the city to recommend a single candidate university by Sunday. Mokpo University and Suncheon National University, which had been in talks about merging to support the medical school bid, ultimately became rivals in the selection process, with Suncheon National University emerging as the final candidate.


klee@heraldcorp.com