Starting in 2027, high school seniors in South Korea will witness a new selection criterion for entering medical schools. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced that more than 10% of the admission quota at 32 medical universities, excluding those in Seoul, must be filled with local students who have attended middle and high schools in the respective areas. This initiative, established under the 'Act on the Cultivation and Support of Regional Doctors', aims to address regional disparities in medical services by training and retaining medical professionals in underserved areas.

The selection process is designed to prioritize students who have not only attended local educational institutions but also lived in the area during their schooling. Those admitted through this program will receive full financial support for tuition, textbooks, and housing. However, if any disruptions such as academic failures or disciplinary actions occur, this financial support will be withdrawn. Graduates are required to serve as regional doctors in their selected regions for ten years, and should they fail to comply with this obligation, they will need to repay the support funds unless they are unable to fulfill their service due to exceptional circumstances such as severe illness or disability.

Additionally, the newly implemented system allows for flexibility in determining the service location if there are insufficient medical facilities in the chosen area. For 'contract-type regional doctors', professionals who enter into agreements with medical institutions will have a contract period of between five to seven years, potentially extendable under specific conditions related to local medical needs. This initiative represents a significant step in addressing the shortage of doctors in rural areas, aiming to create a sustainable healthcare system that adequately services these regions.