Icheon City Included in 'Regional Doctor Program' Area... Expectations High for Strengthening Local Talent Retention

Icheon City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Kyunghee) announced on March 19 that, following the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Welfare's "2027–2031 Medical School Enrollment Quota Allocation Plan" and related legislation, Icheon City has been included as a target area for the "Regional Doctor Program" in the Gyeonggi and Incheon region.

Panoramic view of Icheon City Hall. Provided by Icheon City

With the introduction of this program, a "Regional Doctor Admission Track" will be newly established at major medical schools in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area, such as Ajou University and Sungkyunkwan University, enabling eligible students from Icheon City to apply for this track.

The main eligibility requirement for the "Regional Doctor Admission Track" is that, under the government’s designated medical service district system, only students who have both graduated from middle and high schools and resided within the same district (Icheon and Yeoju) will qualify. This system is designed to enable students who have consistently continued their studies locally to grow into regional medical professionals, with the goal of preventing the outflow of regional talent and fostering a stable educational environment within the area.

According to the government announcement, students selected through this track will be able to focus on their studies without financial burden, thanks to government-funded educational support. To facilitate this, the government plans to establish a "Regional Doctor Support Center" that will systematically assist students with their studies and career development, as well as build partnerships that allow clinical training not only at university hospitals but also at various medical sites within the region.

However, after obtaining their medical license, these students will be required to serve for 10 years at designated medical institutions in specified areas, including the Icheon district (Icheon and Yeoju), and must work in essential medical fields within the community. The first cohort of students admitted in 2027 is expected to complete their specialist training and be deployed to the region after 2037.

An official from Icheon City stated, "With the enforcement of the related legislation, new educational opportunities are now available for local students," adding, "We expect that the introduction of the Regional Doctor Program will strengthen the foundation for Icheon’s talented individuals to grow and settle in the region."

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