Jeollanam-do, the Only Region Without a Medical School, Races to Establish a National Medical School

Allocation of 100 Seats Confirmed for Integrated Medical School
Addressing Medical Service Gaps... Targeting Opening in 2028
Discussions Also Underway on Building a Wide-Area Responsibility-Based Medical System

Scene from the launch ceremony of the Joint Preparatory Committee for the integrated medical school of Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University. Provided by Jeonnam Province

With the allocation of 100 seats confirmed for the national medical school at the integrated university (Mokpo National University and Sunchon National University), the medical workforce training structure in Jeollanam-do, which had been the only region in the country without a medical school, has entered a major turning point. It is being evaluated that this has laid the groundwork for resolving the severe shortage and gaps in essential and emergency medical services.

According to Jeollanam-do on February 17, the province has entered a super-aged society, with the proportion of elderly people among the highest in the country, and medical demand is increasing rapidly. However, the number of doctors per capita is below the national average, and the shortage of personnel in essential and emergency medical fields has been pointed out as a structural problem.

As a result, the widening gap in medical accessibility between regions has continuously raised concerns among residents about the use of emergency and essential medical services.

To improve these medical conditions, the plan to establish a national medical school in Jeollanam-do has entered full swing, as the allocation of 100 seats was confirmed after deliberation by the Health and Medical Policy Deliberation Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

With this decision, Jeollanam-do will, for the first time, establish a system in which it directly trains medical personnel within the region and links them to local medical sites. It is expected to become a starting point for moving away from the existing model that relied on the inflow of external personnel and instead enabling the settlement and circulation of medical professionals within the region.

In particular, the establishment of a national medical school is being evaluated as core infrastructure in discussions on building a wide-area, responsibility-based medical system, in connection with the debate over administrative integration between Jeollanam-do and Gwangju.

Based on the allocated seats, Jeollanam-do is pushing forward step by step with follow-up procedures for the opening of the national medical school.

In cooperation with the government, Mokpo National University, and Sunchon National University, the province is accelerating preparations for opening the school, including integrating the universities, securing faculty, and expanding educational facilities and equipment. It is also continuing consultations on bringing forward the opening date proposed by the government from 2030 to 2028.

Park Jongpil, Director General of the Human Resources Development and Education Bureau of Jeollanam-do, said, "The establishment of a national medical school is a turning point that marks the beginning of Jeollanam-do taking responsibility for the future of regional healthcare," adding, "We will do our best to structurally resolve residents' anxiety over medical care and to build a medical system in which everyone can receive treatment with peace of mind."

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