The South Korean government plans to allocate the 2,000 medical school seats to be added from this year’s admissions, with 80% going to non-metropolitan areas and 20% to the metropolitan area, according to officials on March 14.
“There is no change in the plan to expand the medical school quota by 2,000 seats, which is crucial for healthcare reform,” an official from the presidential office said during a phone call with the Chosunilbo. “As originally planned, more seats will be allocated to non-metropolitan areas to revive the declining regional medical services.” The strategy includes primarily increasing seats at national university medical schools (nine) that serve as regional medical hubs and at “mini-medical schools” (12) in non-metropolitan areas with fewer than 50 seats to enhance their competitiveness. The government intends to complete the seat allocation within this month, accelerating the process to give students time to prepare and to enable universities to expedite the admissions process.
Currently, of the 3,058 medical school seats, 1,035 (33.8%) are allocated to 13 universities in the metropolitan area, while 2,023 (66.2%) are allocated to 27 universities in non-metropolitan areas. According to the government’s policy, next year’s admission quota will be 1,435 (28.4%) for the metropolitan area and 3,623 (71.6%) for non-metropolitan areas, with the share for non-metropolitan areas exceeding 70%. The government also aims to increase the selection ratio of “local talent admissions” for regional medical schools from the current minimum of 40% to over 60%. Initiatives such as establishing a “regional medical development fund” and introducing a “contract-based essential physician system” for doctors working in regions are intended to elevate the status of regional hub national university hospitals to the level of major hospitals in Seoul.
The government and the medical community have not reached a compromise regarding the increase in medical school seats and disciplinary measures for resident doctors. The emergency committee of medical school professors, formed by 19 medical schools nationwide, has decided to determine whether to submit resignations by March 15. Professors from Gyeongsang National University’s Medical School resolved on March 14 to submit their resignations. The Association of National University Presidents, consisting of leaders from 10 national universities, issued an appeal on the same day, requesting the return of medical students and residents and urging professors to refrain from mass resignations. They also called on the government to “promptly facilitate dialogue between the medical community and the government.”
