The South Korean government has decided to increase the number of medical school admissions by 3,342 over the next five years, raising concerns about the distribution of these spots among 32 regional medical schools and the establishment of a stable local medical system.
The South Korean government has announced a significant increase in medical school admissions starting from the 2027 academic year, which will add 3,342 new spots over five years. This decision shifts the focus to how these spots will be distributed among the 32 regional medical schools, particularly those that lack local training hospitals, leading to debates about what constitutes a genuine ‘local medical school.’ The current situation could potentially undermine the goal of nurturing doctors who are committed to practicing in their regions, as many medical schools have affiliated training hospitals located in Seoul or the metropolitan area rather than their own locales.
A key concern among education officials is the complex allocation process for the increased admissions, which is pending under the Ministry of Education’s oversight. The Ministry plans to announce the allocation in the coming months, but it is adapting new criteria to limit the percentage of increased admissions based on each school’s existing capacity. National universities with 50 or more admissions will not exceed a 30% increase, while smaller institutions may increase their numbers by up to 100%. This approach seeks to strengthen the training of essential local healthcare personnel while addressing the disparities in educational resources among various institutions.
The issue of 'token regional medical schools' is particularly contentious, as many of these institutions are situated in regions but rely on urban hospitals for practical training. Esteemed healthcare leaders argue that for the local doctor system to work effectively, all aspects of medical education—including clinical training—must occur within the local areas intended to be served. The Ministry of Education has acknowledged these concerns and indicated that schools that don’t conduct local practical training might face penalties in their admission allocations, suggesting a push towards ensuring that local medical graduates actually serve in their communities rather than being trained elsewhere.
