Increase Local Admission Quota to 40% for Regional Medical, Dental, Pharmaceutical, and Korean Medicine Universities

From the 2023 Academic Year, Minimum Admission Quota for Local Talent at Regional Universities Set at 40%
Nursing Colleges to Maintain 30% Standard Initially Considering Implementation Phase
Law Schools Relax Minimum Admission Quota for Local Talent to 15%
Recommendation Changed to Obligation, Local Talent Criteria Also Specified

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is delivering opening remarks at the 39th Cabinet Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] From the 2023 academic year university admissions, regional universities' medical, pharmaceutical, dental, and Korean medicine departments must obligatorily select at least 40% of their students from local talents.

On the 14th, the Ministry of Education announced that the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the "Act on the Promotion of Local Universities and Regional Balanced Talent Development (Local University Promotion Act)" was deliberated and approved at the Cabinet meeting. The amendment contains follow-up measures to the Local University Promotion Act, which will take effect from the 24th. From the 2023 academic year, the minimum admission standard for local talents, which was previously a "recommendation," becomes "mandatory."

The minimum admission ratio for local talents in medical, pharmaceutical, dental, and Korean medicine departments at regional universities will be raised from 30% to 40%. Among the annual 3,000 medical department admissions, the number of local talent admissions will increase from 900 to 1,200. The target regions are four of the six regions: Chungcheong, Honam, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam, while only Gangwon and Jeju regions will have a minimum admission ratio of 20%. The minimum admission ratio for local talents at regional medical and dental graduate schools is 20%, with Gangwon at 10% and Jeju at 5%.

The minimum admission ratio for local talents in nursing departments is 30%, with Gangwon and Jeju applying 15% respectively. The law school admission ratio has been lowered from the existing 20% to 15%. This reduction is due to some regions, including Jeju, being unable to meet the 20% standard.

The criteria for local talents have also been specified. It is clearly stated that those who have completed the entire course of middle school located in the local area (from admission to graduation) and those who have completed all courses at a high school located in the local university's area (from admission to graduation) are considered local talents. The local talent criteria will apply from the 2028 academic year university admissions, for students entering middle school in the 2022 academic year. As the minimum admission standard becomes mandatory, universities that do not comply will face sanctions.

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "Rather than sanctions, we will first identify the reasons if universities do not comply, such as voluntary withdrawal or a low number of applicants, and will mainly guide them with corrective measures."

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