Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul "Welcomes Announcement of Medical School Quota Expansion"

Government Announces Expansion of Medical School Quotas by 2,000

Regret Remains Over Continued Review Policy for Establishing New Medical Schools

Park Hong-ryul, mayor of Mokpo City, expressed a welcoming stance on the government's announcement to expand medical school quotas.

The government announced on the 1st a package of four essential medical reforms, focusing on expanding medical personnel, strengthening regional healthcare, establishing a safety net for medical accidents, and enhancing fairness in compensation systems. On the 6th, it declared that the medical school admission quota for the 2025 academic year would be increased by 2,000 to a total of 5,058 students.

Mayor Park said, "With this decision to increase quotas for the first time in 19 years, the nationwide shortage of doctors will be resolved, and essential medical fields will be strengthened, allowing more citizens to benefit from public healthcare," expressing gratitude and welcome.

Mayor Park Hong-ryul is giving a greeting speech at the citizens' grand debate for attracting a medical school to Jeollanam-do. [Photo by Mokpo City]

However, he expressed deep regret that the establishment of new medical schools was not confirmed and that the government only stated it would continue to review the matter.

Mayor Park stated, "The increase in existing medical school quotas alone cannot resolve the medical vulnerability of Jeonnam, the only region nationwide without a medical school," adding, "It is very disappointing that the announcement did not include the establishment of medical schools in regions without one."

He continued, "In particular, the southwestern region of Jeonnam, including Mokpo, is an area where about 44% of the nation's inhabited islands are concentrated, and it is a medical desert with the highest nationwide rates of elderly population aged 65 and over, cancer patients, and chronic disease patients," explaining the current situation.

He also emphasized, "We hope the government will actively promote the establishment of a national medical school in the Jeonnam region, which is the only way to improve this poor regional medical environment and protect the fundamental human rights to life and health," and stressed, "Mokpo City will continue to make every effort to attract a national medical school to the Jeonnam region."