Gov't announces successful candidates to host two new regional medical schools

Sejong — The South Korean government announced on Wednesday that two new medical schools will be established at Sunchon National University in Suncheon, southwestern Suncheon, and Gyeongkuk National University in Andong, southeastern Andong. Beginning in 2030, these universities will accept 60 and 40 medical students per year, respectively.

This decision forms part of a major government effort to create new medical colleges in regions without existing schools, aiming to enhance access to medical care in rural areas, bolster public healthcare, and tackle shortages of doctors in key fields like pediatrics and surgery.

A government task force, consisting of officials from the education and health ministries, initially identified North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla provinces as potential sites for the new medical schools. They chose these areas due to their inadequate access to medical services and the need to establish a training and retention framework for physicians.

Subsequently, the provincial governments were asked to suggest appropriate universities to host these institutions. While the government continues its work, the initial selection indicates a strategic focus on provinces requiring improved healthcare infrastructure.