South Korea Expands Medical School Quotas, Shifting Capacity Toward Regional Universities
South Korea’s Ministry of Education announced on the 13th the preliminary allocations of medical school student quotas for the 2027–2031 academic years, following a prior review by the Health and Welfare Policy Advisory Committee earlier this year. The move is part of a long-running effort to adjust the nation’s medical education capacity.
For the 2027 admissions cycle, the biggest increases are slated for Kangwon National University and Chungbuk National University, each gaining 39 places, with Jeonnam, Busan, and Jeju national universities added to the list of larger increases (Jeonnam and Busan by 31, Jeju by 28). Some schools will see more modest gains, including Cha University (+2), Sungkyunkwan University (+3), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology’s medical program (+5), and Dongguk University (+5). Overall, the 2027 intake is set at 3,548 students, up from 3,058 in 2024.
The plan also projects how the quota will evolve through 2031. With continued increases, the total medical school capacity would reach 3,671 by 2031. In that year, several non-Seoul schools are expected to exceed Seoul National University’s current quota of 135 students, including Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Busan, Chosun, and Chungnam, as well as Kyungpook National University, reflecting a shift in the geographic balance of medical training capacity.
By 2031, Jeonbuk National University is projected to have 169 students, Jeonnam 163, Busan 163, Chosun 149, and Chungnam 143, with Kyungpook at 143. Wonkwang, Sooncheonhyang, and Wonkwang campuses are also expected to grow to 114, 116, and 112 respectively, placing them ahead of Seoul’s private medical schools such as Kyunghee, Yonsei, and Hanyang, which are each listed at about 110.
The Education Ministry emphasized three guiding principles for the allocation: priority to national universities; ensuring appropriate quotas for smaller medical schools; and assessing whether training occurs at regional, non-campus hospitals and how such settings are supported and improved. Universities have until the 24th to submit their comments on the plan.
If finalized in April, individual universities will revise their university rules in May and adjust their 2027 admissions plans accordingly. The government’s approach signals a sustained effort to rebalance medical education demand across the country, rather than concentrating it in a small cluster of institutions.
Why this matters beyond Korea: South Korea’s medical education expansion affects the global healthcare landscape by potentially altering the supply of physicians and the geographic distribution of medical training. For the United States, Korea’s shifts touch on several fronts: the health workforce pipeline that feeds joint research, biotechnology, and clinical collaboration; the role of regional hospitals in medical education and potential cross-border training partnerships; and the broader dynamics of global competition and cooperation in medical innovation. As Korea strengthens regional medical education capacity, it may influence international research ties, exchange programs, and the pace of collaboration in biotech and digital health technologies.