More than 5,000 applicants flocked to the early admission track for the regional physician system at medical schools, introduced for the first time in the 2027 college admissions. Even with the condition that license holders must serve in the designated region for 10 years, schools outside the capital area reported higher competition than the existing regional talent track.
According to Jongno Academy on the 14th, in the 2027 early admissions, 5,076 people applied for 458 seats under the regional physician track at 31 medical schools nationwide, posting an average competition rate of 11.08 to 1.
By region, the four medical schools in the Gyeongin area drew 192 applicants for 22 seats, recording 8.73 to 1. The 27 medical schools outside the capital area drew 4,884 applicants for 436 seats, for 11.20 to 1.
Among non-capital regions, Honam had the highest competition at 13.35 to 1. It was followed by Daegu–North Gyeongsang at 12.60 to 1; Busan–Ulsan–South Gyeongsang at 12.31 to 1; Chungcheong at 10.76 to 1; Gangwon at 8.02 to 1; and Jeju at 4.65 to 1.
By university, Kosin University posted the highest competition nationwide at 23.00 to 1, with 161 applicants for seven seats.
Chonbuk National University followed at 21.29 to 1, then Dong-A University at 19.53 to 1, Chosun University at 16.89 to 1, Konkuk University Glocal Campus at 16.00 to 1, Keimyung University at 15.20 to 1, and Yeungnam University at 15.15 to 1.
Under the regional physician system, students who grew up in a region are selected through a separate track, receive tuition and other support from the national and local governments, and are required to work in the designated region for 10 years after obtaining a medical license.
Notably, for medical schools outside the capital area, the average competition for the regional physician track was higher than for the regional talent track, which does not require mandatory service. The average competition for the regional physician track was 11.20 to 1, surpassing the regional talent track's 10.52 to 1.
Applicants to the regional talent track at the 27 medical schools outside the capital area numbered 10,891, down 356 (3.2%) from 11,247 a year earlier.
By area, Gangwon applicants fell 18.6% from a year earlier, with Jeju (-6.7%), Busan–Ulsan–South Gyeongsang (-5.4%), Chungcheong (-5.3%), and Daegu–North Gyeongsang (-2.1%) also down. Honam, by contrast, rose 7.2%.
Jongno Academy assessed that a significant number of test-takers likely applied to both the regional physician track and the regional talent track.
Lim Seong-ho, head of Jongno Academy, said, "We cannot yet tell whether applicants used the regional physician track as a reach or a safety," adding, "The scale of attrition from dual acceptances and the final cutoff scores could vary widely by university and region."