Members of the National Assembly Who Promised to Establish Regional Medical Schools Say "Severe Shortage of Local Doctors"

(From left) Kim Won-i, Democratic Party of Korea member; Kang Ki-yoon, United Future Party member

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the government and the medical community resume dialogue, marking a new phase in the doctors' strike situation, ruling and opposition lawmakers who have promised to establish regional national university medical schools are emphasizing fundamental solutions for 'expanding regional doctors.' They repeatedly stress the necessity of increasing regional doctors, as the establishment of regional medical schools they advocate aims to guarantee the quality of medical services in underprivileged areas.

Kim Won-i, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Mokpo City, Jeonnam), said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 2nd, "Jeonnam is the only region among the 17 metropolitan local governments without a medical school," adding, "There is a need to bridge the medical gap between regions through the establishment of Mokpo National University Medical School." The establishment of Mokpo National University Medical School has been the biggest local issue and a key election pledge of Representative Kim. Right after the government announced plans to expand medical school quotas on July 23, he stated, "I strongly persuaded the urgency and necessity of establishing a medical school in Jeonnam during the party-government-office meetings," and added, "Thanks to these efforts, the agreement explicitly included the establishment of a medical school in the Jeonnam area."

Mokpo City emphasizes that it is a 'prepared city,' having secured the site for the medical school since the establishment has been a 30-year-old long-cherished project. Representative Kim explained, "According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the cost-benefit ratio (B/C) of establishing Mokpo National University Medical School is 1.70, proving its economic feasibility," and added, "Mokpo City is the most prepared among regions competing to attract medical schools, having already estimated the production inducement effect and employment inducement effect resulting from the establishment of the medical school."

Kang Ki-yoon, a member of the United Future Party (Seongsan District, Changwon City, Gyeongnam), has also raised his voice for the establishment of Changwon National University Medical School since entering the 21st National Assembly. Although the establishment of a medical school was not one of Kang's main pledges, after the government announced the expansion of medical school quotas and stated, "We plan to actively consider and promote the establishment of medical schools in regions without one," he has shown proactive actions such as submitting the 'Special Act on the Establishment of Changwon National University Medical School.'

Changwon City, like Mokpo City, argues that establishing a medical school is necessary to resolve regional medical imbalances. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of doctors per 1,000 people is 1.7 in Jeonnam and 1.6 in Gyeongnam, both below the national average of 2 and about half of Seoul's 3.1.

Representative Kang emphasized the importance of establishing new medical schools, saying, "Among cities with a population of over one million outside the metropolitan area, Changwon City is the only one without a medical school," and added, "The government's goal of increasing the number of doctors by 4,000 over ten years is to resolve regional medical imbalances, but increasing quotas at existing medical schools will not be a solution."

Both lawmakers also emphasize that establishing regional medical schools will solve the shortage of local doctors. To this end, Mokpo City and Changwon City plan to secure essential medical personnel long-term through a 'Regional Doctor System,' which requires recipients of scholarships to serve in the region for 10 years, including the training period. The condition is to work for 10 years in essential specialties such as internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and general surgery. A representative from Kim's office explained, "The Regional Doctor System aims to have personnel who understand the characteristics of the region provide medical services to local residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.