"New Medical Schools" and "Need for Increased Quotas"... Medical School Quotas Ignite Controversy in Regions

Amid conflicts between the government and medical associations over the expansion of medical school quotas, local political circles and regional medical schools are competing to demand the securing of medical personnel.

On the 18th, members of the National Assembly and provincial councilors from Jeonnam affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea held a press conference and rally in Seoul, advocating for the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam. They stated, "To realize the policy goal of increasing the number of doctors, establishing a medical school in the Jeonnam region is essential," adding, "Even if the number of doctors is increased, without establishing a medical school in Jeonnam, it is impossible to expand the insufficient medical workforce in Jeonnam."

Rep. Kim Won shaving his head to urge the establishment of a medical school in Jeonnam
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Jeonnam is the only province nationwide, excluding Sejong City, without a medical school. Although Chosun University and Chonnam National University have medical schools, they are located in Gwangju City. Jeonnam Province has been pushing for the establishment of a regional medical school, with Mokpo National University and Sunchon National University hoping to host medical schools. Jeonbuk Province is hoping for the establishment of a public medical school in Namwon, where Seonam University's medical school was closed. Gyeongnam, home to Gyeongsang National University, insists on increasing quotas, and Changwon is promoting the establishment of a medical school.

Unlike the Medical Association, regional university hospitals support the quota expansion. At the National Assembly Education Committee’s audit, Choi Young-seok, director of Chungbuk National University Hospital, said, "I believe that the issue of doctor supply and demand cannot be resolved without increasing the medical school quotas." Chungbuk has Chungbuk National University Medical School (49 students) and Konkuk University Glocal Campus Medical School (40 students), but compared to Gangwon (266), Jeonbuk (235), and Daejeon (199), the quotas are insufficient. Ulsan and Busan are also demanding quota expansions.

In Chungbuk’s case, controversy arose when Governor Kim Young-hwan decided to exclude Konkuk University Glocal Campus in Chungju from the target for increasing the medical school quota by 221 students. In Chungbuk and Chungju areas, although Konkuk University received approval to establish a medical school based on the Glocal Campus in 1986, criticism has been raised that investment is focused only on the Seoul hospital rather than Chungju hospital. On the 17th, Governor Kim stated the direction for expanding Chungbuk’s medical school quotas, saying, "It must first be clarified that (Konkuk University Medical School) is not a medical school for the Seoul hospital," and announced that he would not separately propose quota expansion to the government.

Cho Gil-hyung, mayor of Chungju, also said at a press briefing, "Since many citizens receive treatment at Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, the medical school at Konkuk University also needs to be expanded to overcome and supplement the limitations of regional healthcare," adding, "Regarding Governor Kim’s concerns about the role of Konkuk University Medical School, Konkuk University should also clarify its position credibly and take effective measures." Konkuk University Glocal Campus explained in a statement, "Konkuk University Medical School is doing its best to nurture local talent."

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