Despite Recommendations Saying "Don't Come If You Want to Go to Medical School"... 83 Students from Gifted Schools Receiving Tax Support Entered Medical and Pharmacy Schools

218 Medical and Pharmaceutical Students Enrolled Over 3 Years Since 2021
'Medical School Concentration' Intensifies... Early Admission Average Competition Rate Rises
"Education Cost Recovery Lacks Effectiveness... Measures Needed"

It has been identified that this year, 83 students from gifted schools receiving educational funding aimed at nurturing science and technology talents have entered medical or pharmaceutical schools.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Education to the office of Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, 218 students from eight gifted schools nationwide have entered medical and pharmaceutical universities over the past three years since 2021.

[Image source=Pixabay]

The number of entrants by year is ▲62 in 2021 ▲73 in 2022 ▲83 in 2023, showing an increasing trend each year.

Gifted schools, funded by taxpayers' money, were established with the purpose of nurturing talents in science and technology. Therefore, entering medical and pharmaceutical fields is not encouraged.

In fact, the recruitment guidelines and admission briefings of gifted schools state, "Students who wish to pursue careers in medical and pharmaceutical fields are not suitable for admission to this school and should not apply."

Accordingly, if a student from a gifted school enters a university in the medical or pharmaceutical field rather than in science and engineering, the school takes measures to recover the full amount of support funds. However, there are criticisms that this is ineffective.

Seoul Science High School recovered about 320 million KRW from 47 students who entered medical and pharmaceutical universities after graduating in February. In addition, ▲Gyeonggi Science High School (24 students, 99.06 million KRW) ▲Daejeon Science High School (7 students, 4.5 million KRW) ▲Korea Science Academy of KAIST (1 student, 1.12 million KRW) also recovered funds.

From July 20 to 22, the 2024 Academic Year Early Admission University Information Fair is being held at COEX in Seoul. On the first day, July 20, many participating students and parents are lining up to enter the event venue. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

The recent phenomenon of concentration in medical schools is intensifying. In the 2023 academic year regular admissions for natural sciences, the top 20 departments were completely dominated by medical, dental, and oriental medicine schools. There were no science and engineering departments. In the recently closed 2024 academic year early admissions, the average competition rate for major medical schools rose to 45.59 to 1 compared to last year.

Regarding this phenomenon, a medical student from a gifted school said to JTBC, "I originally planned to major in biochemistry at KAIST, but after researching and studying, I felt medicine was my path," adding, "Looking around, some friends have parental encouragement or seek job stability."

Assemblyman Kang Deuk-gu pointed out, "As seen in the case of Seoul Science High School, sanctions such as simply recovering educational expenses and scholarships are ineffective," and urged, "The education authorities must prepare practical measures and fundamental countermeasures."