Ministry of Health Announces Survey Results on Medical School Quota Expansion
KMA Condemns 'Unscientific Survey,' Vows Total Strike
Forty medical schools nationwide have requested an increase of up to 2,847 students from the current enrollment quota of 3,058 for the 2025 academic year. The maximum demand for expansion by 2030 was estimated at 3,953 students. If this demand survey is reflected in policy, the medical school enrollment quota by 2030 will more than double from the current level.
On the 21st, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the results of this demand survey for expanding medical school enrollment quotas. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education conducted the survey from the 27th of last month to the 9th of this month to identify the scale of enrollment expansion possible while maintaining the quality of medical education. All medical schools expressed their intention to increase enrollment.
On the 19th of last month, at the Essential Medical Innovation Strategy meeting chaired by the President, the Ministry announced three major policies to guarantee essential medical care: normalization of the essential medical delivery system, securing sufficient medical personnel, and strengthening the foundation for essential medical promotion. These are being concretized through inter-ministerial meetings.
Jeon Byeong-wang, Director General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is announcing the results of the demand survey for the expansion of medical school quotas on the 21st.
Request to Expand Medical School Enrollment by 2,151 to 2,847 Students in 2025
The total demand for enrollment expansion for the 2025 academic year presented by all medical schools ranged from a minimum of 2,151 to a maximum of 2,847 students. Furthermore, each university hopes to continuously expand enrollment, aiming to add between 2,738 and 3,953 students by the 2030 academic year. The minimum demand reflects the scale of expansion deemed immediately possible based on the current capacity of faculty and educational facilities possessed by each university to provide quality medical education. The maximum demand represents the desired expansion scale assuming the universities secure additional educational conditions.
However, the expansion scale by individual universities and regions was not disclosed. Jeon Byeong-wang, Director of the Health and Medical Policy Office at the Ministry of Health and Welfare (Head of the Medical Education Inspection Team), explained, "Since the total enrollment scale, the actual increase in admission quotas, and the distribution criteria have not been decided, detailed disclosure of the demand survey results could cause unnecessary misunderstandings," adding, "Some universities did not agree to disclosure, so only the total scale was announced."
Policy Package Including Medical School Enrollment to Be Announced by End of December
The government is reviewing the validity of the demand survey results submitted by universities through the Medical Education Inspection Team. The team consists of experts with experience in medical education, evaluation, and related fields, who are first reviewing the submitted documents. Additionally, a field inspection team will be formed within the inspection team to verify information that is difficult to confirm through documents alone by interviewing university stakeholders and, if necessary, visiting universities directly. The goal is to complete this process within this month.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to determine the total medical school enrollment quota comprehensively by considering the demand survey results submitted by each university, the inspection results by the Medical Education Inspection Team, regional infrastructure, and the universities' capacity. Afterward, once the Ministry of Health and Welfare notifies the Ministry of Education of the total enrollment quota, the Ministry of Education will proceed with the allocation process for each university's admission quota.
Director Jeon said, "Once the Ministry of Health and Welfare identifies the total demand and scale of medical school enrollment and passes it to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education will need time to plan the allocation for each school," adding, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare's role will be completed by the end of December, or at the latest, early January." He also stated, "We plan to announce a policy package that includes the scale of medical school enrollment along with regional and essential medical policies such as the policy to alleviate judicial risk burdens in the fee system."
The establishment of public medical schools will also be discussed. Director Jeon explained, "The establishment of public medical schools and regional medical schools will be continuously reviewed based on demand."
Medical Associations Condemn 'Unscientific Demand Survey,' Threaten General Strike
Medical associations are opposing the government's announcement. The Korean Medical Association held an emergency press conference on the same day, condemning the government's unscientific medical school enrollment demand survey and warning that they would not hesitate to launch a general strike. The association stated, "The hastily conducted demand survey caused conflicts between university presidents seeking admission benefits and medical school deans opposing it, and the announcement of unconfirmed and unobjective numbers has caused great confusion in our society," urging, "Immediately stop this arbitrary public opinion manipulation survey and establish a proper medical school enrollment policy based on scientific evidence and for the future of the Republic of Korea, not political logic." They further declared, "If the medical school enrollment policy is unilaterally enforced without scientific evidence and sufficient communication, we will unite the consensus of 140,000 doctors and will not hesitate to carry out a general strike in the medical community."
In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "The Korean Medical Association can express different opinions," adding, "There are communication channels such as the medical issue consultative body, so we will continue to consult."
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