The selection of Suncheon National University as the candidate for a new national medical school is fueling growing conflict across the region, spilling beyond university campuses into the broader community and local politics — including a fresh dispute inside the South Jeolla-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City Council.
At a budget review session of the council's Planning and Finance Committee on Monday, lawmakers raised concerns over the fairness of the selection process, the disclosure of evaluation materials and the city administration's handling of the controversy.
Assembly member Choi Seon-guk, representing Mokpo District 1, questioned why the evaluation had been entrusted to the Jeonnam Research Institute and challenged the institute's expertise, calling for the full release of audio recordings and assessment materials.
"I am not saying Suncheon National University's medical school is wrong — I am saying we need to examine whether the review was fair," Choi said. "Releasing only some of the materials could deepen suspicions."
Assembly member Kim Mun-su, representing Sinan District 1, also said the demands from the southwestern region were not about overturning the outcome but about verifying the fairness of the process, and criticized the mayor and the administration for responding too passively.
Assembly member Shim Cheol-ui, representing Seo-gu District 4, said the city needed to prepare a response plan — whether to pursue additional legal action if an injunction request is granted, or to accept the court's ruling and seek alternatives.
Assembly member Moon Gap-tae, representing Yeosu District 5, said the transition committee for the merged city had failed to adequately consult with the regions and institutions that had been pursuing a medical school of their own. "The administration must actively engage with the Mokpo area, where protests and hunger strikes have already begun," he said.
In response, Park Jong-pil, director of the Human Resources and Education Bureau, said he had personally proposed entrusting the evaluation to the Jeonnam Research Institute and that the mayor had approved the decision.
"I judged the Jeonnam Research Institute to be appropriate given the tight schedule and feasibility considerations," Park said. On the question of the injunction ruling, he said the city would "of course" comply with whatever the court decides.
sij@heraldcorp.com
