From the 2027 academic year, candidates aspiring for the local doctor selection track in South Korea must complete their middle and high school education in the same metropolitan area as the medical college they intend to enter. The criteria for middle school location have shifted from the previous 'non-capital region' to a more localized 'metropolitan area adjacent to the medical college.' This is a response to concerns about potential negative consequences, such as students moving away from their homes to study for medical college entrance exams.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a restructured proposal for the enforcement decree of the 'Local Doctor Training and Support Act' on the 27th, allowing for a one-week public re-notification period until the 6th of the following month. After a previous legislative proposal was presented in January and feedback from relevant departments was gathered, this modified decree was crafted. The changes mean that to apply for the local doctor selection track, students must now graduate from middle schools specifically located in the metropolitan area where their designated medical school is. For example, students applying to Konyang University in Daejeon must have completed their middle school education in Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, or Chungbuk, emphasizing the locality of the medical workforce.

Critics have expressed concern that the previous, less stringent guidelines were insufficient for fostering local medical talent. The Ministry defended the change, stating it aims to ensure students raised in the targeted regions apply to become local doctors, serving their communities for a mandatory ten-year period. This amendment aims to cultivate a sustainable local medical workforce and prevent the adverse effects of students relocating to other regions for their education, thereby promoting the intended benefits of the law.