Press Conference and Even Head Shaving... Flood of Requests for New 'National Medical Schools' in Various Regions

Jeonnam National Assembly Member Shaves Head, Demands Establishment of National Medical School
Chungnam Governor Urges Creation of Chungnam National Medical School

As the presidential office officially announced plans to expand medical school quotas and the government unveiled an innovative healthcare strategy to enhance the competitiveness of national university hospitals, requests for the establishment of new national medical schools have been pouring in from various local governments.

Politicians in the Jeonnam region have even risked shaving their heads in protest, and Kim Tae-heum, governor of Chungnam Province, held a press conference to vocally demand the construction of a national medical school in Chungnam.

On the 19th, Governor Kim held a press conference at the Chungnam Provincial Office, stating, "In a situation where local healthcare is collapsing, expanding medical school quotas is an urgent task of our time," and urged the establishment of a national medical school in Chungnam.

Photo by Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungnam Province, Facebook

His call for a national medical school in Chungnam came on the same day President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over the 'Essential Medical Innovation Strategy Meeting' at Chungbuk National University, expressing his intention to expand medical school quotas by saying, "Expanding medical personnel and nurturing talent are necessary conditions." The presidential office also reaffirmed its plan to increase medical school quotas starting from the 2025 admissions, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the 'Regional Comprehensive Essential Medical Innovation Strategy,' aimed at strengthening the medical capabilities of regional national university hospitals and other base hospitals.

Contrary to earlier reports that the government was considering increasing medical school quotas by 1,000 students, the presidential office stated, "The process of determining the numbers is not easy," indicating that the scale of the increase has not yet been finalized. This is interpreted as a cautious approach to setting the actual increase size, considering opposition from stakeholders.

Despite the quota increase not being finalized, Governor Kim emphasized the necessity of establishing a national medical school in Chungnam by sharing a graphic on his social media stating, "We actively welcome the government's plan to increase medical school quotas by 1,000."

He said, "The number of practicing doctors per 1,000 people in South Korea is 2.6, the second lowest among OECD member countries after Mexico, and Chungnam's rate is 1.5, the lowest nationwide and very poor. To expand medical school quotas, which is a matter of life and death for our residents, we will form a 'Pan-Provincial Promotion Committee' and strongly push for the establishment of a national medical school."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Members of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party representing Jeonnam also shaved their heads in front of the Yongsan presidential office and at the National Assembly, advocating for the necessity of establishing a national medical school.

Kim Won-i, a Democratic Party lawmaker representing Mokpo, said on social media, "With the medical school quota increase gaining momentum, I shaved my head out of a desperate desire to do whatever it takes to establish a medical school in the Jeonnam region and attract a medical school to Mokpo." So Byeong-cheol, representing Suncheon, also said, "If it is for the installation of a national medical school in Jeonnam, which concerns the lives and survival of Jeonnam residents, I am willing to offer not only my hair but my entire body."

In Chungbuk, after news emerged that Governor Kim Young-hwan decided to exclude Konkuk University Global Campus in Chungju from the medical school quota increase demands, Cho Gil-hyung, mayor of Chungju, held a press briefing and raised his voice, saying, "Since many citizens receive treatment at Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, it is necessary to increase the quota at Konkuk University Medical School to overcome and supplement the limitations of regional healthcare."

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