South Korea Expands Medical School Quotas to Grow Physician Workforce by 2031

South Korea’s Ministry of Education announced a preliminary allocation plan for medical school quotas for the 2027–2031 period, notifying 40 medical schools and inviting comments by the 24th. The plan aims to shape the number of medical students across the country as the government plans to expand the physician workforce.

The distribution shows the largest increases are set for Kangwon National University and Chungbuk National University. Each would gain 39 places for the 2027 intake, bringing both schools to 88 total. For the 2028–2031 period, the increase would rise to 49 places per school, lifting their totals to 98 during that span. The smallest growth goes to Cha University College of Medicine, which would add only 2 seats in 2027, for a total of 42.

Region by region, the Gangwon region is slated to add 63 places across four medical schools. Kangwon National University would gain 39, with Catholic Kwandong University up 6, Yonsei University Future Campus up 11, and Hanlim University up 7. In the Gyeonggi-Incheon region, five medical schools would add 24 places overall: Gachon University up 7, Sungkyunkwan University up 3, Ajou University up 6, Inha University up 6, and Cha University up 2.

The Gwangju region would see 50 additional places across two medical schools. In the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, five medical schools would gain 72 places: Kyungpook National University up 26, Keimyung University up 15, Daegu Catholic University up 13, Dongguk University’s WISE Campus up 5, and Yeungnam University up 13. For Daejeon and Chungnam, five medical schools would add 72 places: Konyang University up 6, Dankook University (Cheonan) up 15, SoonChunHyang University up 18, Eulji University up 6, and Chungnam National University up 27.

In the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, six medical schools would add 97 places: Gyeongsang National University up 22, Kosin University up 7, Dong-A University up 17, Pusan National University up 31, Ulsan University up 5, and Inje University up 15. The Jeonbuk region is planned to add 38 places: Wonkwang University up 17, and Jeonbuk National University up 21. In Jeju, Jeju National University would gain 28 places.

Separately, the Chungbuk region would see 46 additional places, with Konkuk University Global Campus up 7 and Chungbuk National University up 39. The ministry noted these allocations reflect a policy priority to bolster national universities and ensure adequate capacity for smaller institutions, while also considering where clinical training takes place, often at regional hospitals.

The Ministry of Education described the allocation as the product of the Medical School Admissions Allocation Committee’s work, incorporating advice from the Ministry of Health and Welfare on overall expansion and the direction of allocation. The pre-notification is subject to feedback, objections, and final adjustments after the 24th deadline.

Why this matters beyond Korea: Korea’s move signals a concerted effort to address physician shortages and regional disparities in healthcare, a trend with implications for the broader Northeast Asian medical education landscape. For the United States, Korea’s expanding pipeline of trained physicians and its regional medical centers could affect international collaboration in medical research, joint training programs, and exchanges between Korean and American universities and hospitals. It may also influence the availability of Korea-based clinical data, partnerships in health-tech development, and cross-border student and professional exchange opportunities, which are relevant to U.S. universities, healthcare systems, and the global supply chain of medical education and research.