The government will, for the first time, select 490 regional doctors in next year's medical school admissions. The system selects students who attended and lived in middle and high school in a region, supports their tuition, and requires them to serve in that region for 10 years after obtaining a medical license.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education said on the 3rd that 32 medical schools and graduate schools of medicine outside Seoul will select a total of 490 people, including 359 at the medical service area level and 131 at the metropolitan area level. The graduate school of medicine at Cha University of Medicine and Science finished accepting applications on the 4th–6th of last month on a separate schedule, and the remaining 31 schools will begin rolling admissions on the 7th.
The regional doctor system selects students who grew up in a region through a separate track, with the state and local governments supporting education and capacity building, and requires them to work in the region for a certain period after obtaining a medical license. It was introduced to reduce regional disparities in physician staffing and to secure, in a stable way, doctors needed for regional health care.
To be eligible, applicants must complete the curriculum from admission to graduation of middle and high school and reside in the medical service area or metropolitan area defined by law. Even if they moved or transferred schools, they can apply if the school location and residency requirements match the recruitment unit they are applying for.
Criteria differ by recruitment unit. For medical service area recruitment, school and residency requirements must be met based on that medical service area. For metropolitan area recruitment, one can apply if the requirements are met within that metropolitan area. If moving between medical service areas within the same metropolitan area, the metropolitan standard applies for middle school, but there are cases where high school graduates cannot apply for medical service area recruitment. Applications are restricted if one has moved or transferred to another metropolitan area.
Gyeonggi and Incheon do not conduct metropolitan area recruitment. Specific eligibility and required documents must be checked in each school's admissions guidelines.
Selected students will receive support for tuition and fees, as well as textbook costs, practicum fees, and dormitory fees. In addition to the medical school curriculum, education and training opportunities needed for regional and public health care will be provided.
In return, after obtaining a medical license, they must work for 10 years in the mandatory service area announced at the time of selection. When issuing the medical license, the government attaches a condition to serve in the region for 10 years. Violations of the mandatory service conditions can result in corrective orders, license suspensions, or license revocations under the law.
During the mandatory service period, the government also plans to support career paths and career management so regional doctors can settle into regional health care settings. In the second half of this year, it will designate regional doctor support centers to provide career counseling and information, job training, career development, domestic and overseas training, and housing stability.
After completing the 10-year mandatory service, they may receive preferences such as priority hiring at the medical institution where they served or at public health care institutions in the region. A legal basis has also been established for local governments to provide administrative and financial support when opening and operating medical institutions in medically underserved areas.
The number of regional doctors selected will increase from 490 for the 2027 academic year to 613 each year for the 2028–2031 academic years. The government plans to build a support system that runs from selection through medical education, residency training, mandatory service, and regional settlement.
By region, Busan–Ulsan–South Gyeongsang has the most with 97, followed by Daejeon–South Chungcheong and Daegu–North Gyeongsang with 72 each, Gangwon with 63, Gwangju–South Jeolla with 50, North Chungcheong with 46, North Jeolla with 38, Jeju with 28, and Gyeonggi–Incheon with 24.
Ahead of the first selection for the regional doctor system, the government released the "Guide to applying for the 2027 regional doctor selection track (FAQ)," which covers topics that drew many questions from test-takers and parents, such as school and residency requirements, eligibility after moving or transferring, and differences between medical service area and metropolitan area recruitment. Details of each school's specific tracks can be found in their admissions guidelines.