Mokpo Mayor Kang Seong-hwi held a one-person protest outside the Gwangju District Court on September 14, condemning the alleged illegality and unfairness in the selection process for the National Medical University candidates in Jeollanam-do.
During the protest, Mayor Kang appealed for a fair and strict judicial ruling regarding the suspension request filed by Mokpo National University against the selection and recommendation process for the new National Medical University.
The protest aimed to raise awareness of the procedural and legal issues surrounding the candidate selection process and to emphasize the necessity of granting the suspension request before the court's main ruling.
Kang stated that the various controversies raised during the candidate selection process must be validated through judicial review to ensure procedural legitimacy and fairness.
He particularly highlighted the aspirations of residents in the southwestern region of Jeollanam-do, who have been advocating for a national medical school for 36 years, urging the court to closely examine the issues raised regarding the selection process.
Mokpo City and the local community have continuously demanded a review and rejection of the recommendation from the Ministry of Education and other authorities, questioning the appropriateness of the selection process following the recommendation of the National Medical University candidates.
On September 4, local lawmakers from Mokpo and city council members issued a joint statement in the National Assembly.
The following day, on September 5, Mayor Kang, along with Congressman Kim Won-yi, city council members, and 12 Mokpo University professors, shaved their heads in front of the Blue House to demand a review of the candidate selection and recommendation process.
On September 9, mayors from eight cities and counties in the southwestern region issued a joint statement calling for a review of the candidate recommendation.
Mokpo City has also sent official documents to the Presidential Office, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, requesting a review of the issues raised in the candidate selection process.
Kang Seong-hwi stated, "The process must be fair for the results to be accepted," adding, "If there were any illegal or unfair issues in the evaluation process, they must be corrected."
He emphasized the need for clarity on the allegations and issues raised during the selection process to secure the legitimacy and fairness of establishing the medical school and to respond to the long-standing aspirations of the residents in the southwestern region.
Meanwhile, the suspension request filed by Mokpo National University is a procedure to determine whether it is necessary to halt the effectiveness of the selection and recommendation process until the court makes a ruling. The court's decision on the suspension will be based on the application requirements and submitted materials, distinguishing it from the final judgment on the legality of the candidate selection process.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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