8 out of 10 Citizens Agree on the Need to Train Physician-Scientists! Consensus Formed on Establishing Research-Oriented Medical Schools

Promotion of Biohealth Industry 83.6%

Importance of Training Physician-Scientists 86.8%

88.6% of the Korean population believes that interdisciplinary research combining medicine and science is important.

Survey Results on the Awareness of Training Citizen Scientist-Doctors.

Additionally, 78.4% think that medical schools or graduate medical schools that train physician-scientists are necessary for this purpose, according to the survey.

Korea Management Association Consulting (KMAC) conducted an online survey over three days last year targeting 1,000 citizens aged 19 and older to investigate the 'need for training physician-scientists and establishing medical schools.'

The survey was included in the 'POSCO TECH Research-Centered Medical School Establishment Execution Strategy Study,' completed this year by Pohang City in collaboration with Gyeongbuk Province and POSTECH.

According to the survey results, 86.0% of the 1,000 respondents agreed on the necessity of training physician-scientists to lead future medicine and foster the bio-health industry, and 84.8% expressed strong support for expanding physician-scientist training.

In particular, when asked whether a medical school or graduate medical school dedicated to training physician-scientists is necessary, 78.4% of the public responded positively, showing support for specialized medical education institutions responsible for training physician-scientists.

This result contrasts sharply with the medical community's previous atmosphere, which, while acknowledging the need for physician-scientist training, was negative about establishing dedicated educational institutions.

Furthermore, 83.6% of respondents evaluated fostering the bio-health industry as important for the nation's future leadership, and 88.6% believed that interdisciplinary research combining medicine and science is essential.

The 1,000 respondents, sampled by region, gender, and age, included 519 residents from the metropolitan area?Seoul (203), Incheon (63), and Gyeonggi (253)?making it the largest group. Age-wise, responses were evenly distributed with 241 in their 60s, 228 in their 50s, 227 in their 40s, and 304 in their 30s and 20s. The sampling error is ±3.1% at a 95% confidence level.

These survey results demonstrate that the public deeply recognizes the value of training physician-scientists and the necessity of medical education institutions for this purpose, which is expected to positively influence Pohang City's key initiative to establish the 'POSTECH Research-Centered Medical School.'

Mayor Lee Kang-deok stated, “Most citizens recognize the necessity of training physician-scientists for South Korea to become an advanced bio-industry nation. This result reflects the contemporary awareness that medical education must be innovated by establishing graduate medical schools specialized in research. Pohang City will solemnly fulfill its mission of bio-national service through the POSTECH research-centered medical school.”

Training physician-scientists was included in the new government's 120 national agenda tasks last May, and recently, President Yoon Suk-yeol has officially urged swift support for training physician-scientists and establishing graduate medical schools several times.

Moreover, at the 'Essential Medical Innovation Strategy Meeting' on October 19, the importance of training physician-scientists was repeatedly emphasized, and the concept and significance of physician-scientists have gained national consensus.