"Even Medical Schools, 9 out of 10 Prefer Not to Be in Provinces, Additional Recruitment"

87.5% Additional Recruitment for Medical and Pharmaceutical Departments at Regional Universities

Among the 10 medical and pharmaceutical universities that conducted additional recruitment last year, about 9 were regional medical schools. This is the result of vacancies in regional medical schools due to applicants' preference for metropolitan area schools despite the so-called 'medical school craze.'

According to Jongro Academy on the 5th, an analysis of the additional recruitment competition rates for early and regular admissions in 2023 nationwide medical and pharmaceutical universities (medical, dental, Korean medicine, veterinary, and pharmacy schools) showed that out of a total of 109 universities, 24 conducted additional recruitment. Among these, 21 schools (87.5%) were regional universities.

Among the universities that conducted additional recruitment, all medical schools (4), dental schools (2), Korean medicine schools (4), and veterinary schools (3) were located in regional areas. In the case of pharmacy schools, 8 out of the 11 schools that conducted additional recruitment were located in regional areas.

The four medical schools that conducted additional recruitment were ▲Catholic Kwandong University ▲Dankook University (Cheonan) ▲Gyeongsang National University ▲Dongguk University (WISE).

The two dental schools that conducted additional recruitment were ▲Chosun University ▲Kyungpook National University, and the Korean medicine schools were ▲Sangji University ▲Dongguk University (WISE) ▲Daejeon University ▲Woosuk University. For veterinary schools, ▲Chonnam National University ▲Jeju National University ▲Gyeongsang National University conducted additional recruitment, and among the 11 pharmacy schools with additional recruitment, the regional universities included ▲Chungbuk National University ▲Kyungsung University ▲Jeju National University ▲Gyeongsang National University ▲Pusan National University ▲Inje University ▲Woosuk University ▲Sunchon National University.

Despite the medical school craze, the reason for additional recruitment in medical and pharmaceutical universities is analyzed to be the preference for metropolitan universities. Applicants can apply up to six times in early admissions, and if they are accepted to both metropolitan and regional medical schools, they often choose the metropolitan area. Even if the unfilled early admission quotas in regional medical schools are transferred to regular admissions, vacancies may still occur in regular admissions for the same reason.

Although the government is discussing plans to expand medical school quotas, it is expected to be difficult to alleviate the concentration in the metropolitan area if the quotas increase mainly in regional medical schools.

Additionally, regarding the government's announcement on the 2nd that medical schools in regions designated as educational development special zones can expand the selection ratio of local talents, there are concerns that this could rather increase the application rate to metropolitan areas.

Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, expressed concern, saying, "If the support for metropolitan and regional medical schools becomes increasingly polarized, concerns about the weakening competitiveness of regional medical schools may arise."

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