Diplomacy Journal shJung  | Starting with the 2027 college entrance exam, the maximum number of medical school admissions will increase to 490.

The additional students will be selected through a regional medical admission process at 32 medical schools outside of Seoul.

On Tuesday, February 10th, at 2:00 PM, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Jung Eun-kyung) held a meeting of the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee and announced a plan to gradually increase the number of physicians at 32 medical schools, excluding Seoul, by an average of 668 per year from 2027 to 2031 to strengthen essential public healthcare in local areas.

With this decision, the maximum number of medical school students will increase from 3,058 in 2024 to 3,548 in 2027, an increase of 490, and 3,671 in 2028 and 2029, an increase of 613.

Starting in 2030, public medical schools and regional medical schools will be established, each accepting 100 new students. The total number of medical school students will increase to 3,871 after 2030.

Small national medical schools with fewer than 50 students will be subject to a 100% cap, enabling them to play a key role in fostering regional medical professionals. Private universities with 50 or more students will be subject to a 20% cap, while small medical schools with fewer than 50 students will be subject to a 30% cap.
 

Excluding the newly recruited public medical schools, the newly recruited doctors will be selected and trained as local doctors under the local doctor system. They will receive government support during their studies and serve for 10 years at local public medical institutions after graduation.

The Local Doctor Support Center provides one-stop support, from student selection and training to ensuring they settle into their local communities.

Students admitted through the local doctor selection process will receive free tuition, textbooks, practical training, dormitory fees, or equivalent living expenses, as well as career counseling and training as local doctors.

During their mandatory service as local doctors, they will receive housing assistance, career development, job training, and overseas training to ensure they remain stable in the region.