‘데드라인' 압박 속 '배수진 협상' -R(260723목/뉴스데스크)

◀ Anchor ▶ Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University have been unable to narrow their differences regarding the attraction of a national medical school to Jeonnam Province and the university merger. While there are observations that this month is the deadline for the merger, a sentiment is emerging that they will not be bound by the deadline regarding a proposal that does not meet the conditions. Reporter Yoo Min-ho reports. ◀ Report ▶ The establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam Province and the university merger are facing difficulties. The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and political circles view the deadline as the end of this month. The argument is that in order to recruit new medical students by 2030, Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University must merge by July, so that the National Assembly can formulate the budget. These are the costs to be used for constructing the medical school building and securing faculty. ◀ SYNC ▶ Park Hyang / Chairperson of the Health and Welfare Committee of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Transition Planning Committee (Briefing on the 14th) "The application for the merger of the two universities must be submitted within July so that the budget for next year, 2027—that is, the budget actually needed to establish a medical school—can be set." The Ministry of Education, the supervising ministry, did not set a specific deadline. [CG1] However, they released explanatory materials stating that if the region pursues university integration with the goal of establishing a medical school by 2030, they must reach an agreement on the locations of the medical school and hospital as soon as possible to avoid schedule delays. // While this effectively puts pressure on them, the two universities have been unable to narrow their differences in position at all. Recently, Suncheon University threw out a so-called 'counter-proposal' to build a university hospital in Mokpo while keeping the medical school and university headquarters in Suncheon, but Mokpo University rejected it, citing low feasibility. In addition to Gwangju in South Jeolla Province, Andong and Yecheon in North Gyeongsang Province are also strongly pushing for the establishment of a medical school at Kyungpook National University, raising concerns that the new medical school could fall through. The two universities, which resumed consultations in Boseong on the 20th, have not yet scheduled a second meeting. Suncheon National University stated that it sent an official letter to Mokpo National University requesting that a location and time be set for additional negotiations. ◀ SYNC ▶ Lee Dong-hee / Vice President for External Relations, Suncheon National University "We intend to continue consultations with Mokpo National University to secure the health rights of citizens in the eastern and western parts of South Jeolla Province." Internally at Suncheon National University, there is a sentiment that time is no longer a priority. [CG2] A university official stated in a phone call with MBC, "We will not be able to conclude negotiations by the deadline with a proposal that is completely unacceptable." // There are also observations that if the two universities fail to find common ground during their second meeting, the negotiation deadline at the end of this month could become meaningless. This is Yoo Min-ho from MBC News. ◀ END ▶