Government Allocates 1,639 of 2,000 Medical School Expansion to Non-Capital Areas... Zero Increase in Seoul

Joint Briefing by Related Ministries Announces Allocation Results
82% in Non-Capital Regions, 18% in Gyeongin Area
200 Additional Seats at Regional National Universities
'Mini Medical Schools' Increased by Over 100 Seats

The government has completed the allocation of the 2,000 additional medical school quotas for next year. Of the increased quotas, 1,639, accounting for 82%, were assigned to universities outside the metropolitan area, while the remaining 361, or 18%, were allocated to the Gyeonggi and Incheon regions, excluding Seoul.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is making an announcement on the allocation of 2,000 medical school quotas on the 20th at the Joint Briefing Room of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

On the afternoon of the 20th, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, announced the results of the allocation of medical school student quotas by university for the 2025 academic year at a joint briefing held at the Government Seoul Office. The total increased quota across 40 medical schools nationwide is 2,000 students. Deputy Prime Minister Lee stated, "This expansion of medical school quotas focuses on improving access to regional medical services so that not only the medically vulnerable but all citizens, regardless of where they live, can enjoy high-quality medical benefits." He added, "Through this increase of 2,000 students, the number of medical students per grade will expand from the current average of 77 to 127."

82% of Increased Quotas Allocated Outside Metropolitan Area... Seoul Excluded from Allocation

The government allocated 1,639 of the 2,000 increased quotas, or 82%, to universities outside the metropolitan area. This decision was made to establish a region-centered medical system and to reduce the medical disparity between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.

For metropolitan universities, 361 quotas, representing 18% of the increase, were distributed. Notably, the quotas in the metropolitan area were concentrated in the Gyeonggi and Incheon regions, with no increased quotas assigned to medical schools in Seoul.

The government explained that more than 80% of the allocated quotas were first assigned to non-metropolitan areas, but to overcome disparities between Seoul and the Gyeongin region, a concentrated allocation was made to the Gyeongin area. Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "Seoul has 3.61 doctors per 1,000 people, close to the OECD average of 3.7, whereas Gyeonggi has 1.80 and Incheon 1.89, both below the national average of 2.23. The average quota per medical school in Seoul is 103 students, but in the Gyeongin region, it is only about 42, less than half of Seoul’s level."

For regional flagship national universities, the total quota was allocated to reach 200 students. Additionally, the quotas for small medical schools with fewer than 50 students were increased to over 100.

Increased Quotas to Utilize Regional Talent Admissions... Promise to Expand Full-Time Faculty

Regarding the quota allocation process, "Until the 4th, the Ministry of Education received applications from universities wishing to expand their medical school quotas, and as a result, all 40 medical schools applied for a total increase of 3,401 students," he explained. "The allocation scale by university was basically decided not to exceed the scale requested by each school, and after carefully reviewing each school's application materials, including educational conditions, graduates’ regional settlement, contribution to essential regional medical services, and future plans, the allocation was comprehensively determined."

The government announced that it will use the increased medical school quotas to select local talents through the 'Regional Talent Admissions' system to improve regional settlement conditions. It also promised to expand full-time faculty at national university medical schools to about 1,000 by 2027. Furthermore, it added that it will investigate the demand for facilities, equipment, and materials due to the quota increase at each university and provide budgetary support accordingly.

Finally, Deputy Prime Minister Lee appealed to the medical community, saying, "Lastly, I once again ask the medical professors and students to return to the bedside and the classroom."

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