On the 27th, a bill to establish a public medical school, which mandates graduates to serve in public healthcare institutions for 15 years, passed the subcommittee of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee in South Korea. The bill consolidates three proposals put forth by members of the Democratic Party, including Kim Mun-soo, Park Hee-seung, and Lee Su-jin, into a single legislative framework known as the 'Law on the Establishment and Operation of National Medical Colleges.' Despite the filibuster and boycott declaration by the ruling People Power Party, which led to their absence in the meeting, the bill moved forward.

The proposed public medical school will be structured as a four-year graduate school, where students are obliged to work for 15 years in public healthcare roles, excluding their military service time from this obligation. National Central Medical Center and local medical centers will serve as designated sites for education and training. The government has a plan to recruit 100 new students annually starting in 2030, paving the way for bolstering public health infrastructure in the country.

Park Hee-seung, one of the legislators behind the bill, emphasized the necessity of enhancing public healthcare infrastructure to protect the lives and health of all citizens, underscoring that this is a pressing task of our time. He also urged for the swift passage of the bill in the plenary session set for March, reinforcing the President's commitment to fulfilling his promises regarding public health initiatives.