Korea to establish public medical school for provinces by 2022

By Kim Jae-heun

The government and the ruling party said they will establish a public medical school in Namwon, North Jella Province by 2022 as part of efforts to expand medical services in the region.

It will use Seonam University that recently closed as the school's campus.

The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare held a meeting at the National Assembly to discuss the plan Wednesday.

“There is an urgent problem to secure manpower to deal with patients, diseases and childbirth in the provinces,” said Kim Tae-nyeon, a DPK lawmaker.

“The government has decided to take responsibility in establishing a public school to provide quality medical services.”

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo said creating a public medical school will resolve the shortage of medical staff in the provinces.

Students will have to fulfill their mandatory medical training and practice at assigned locations after graduation.

If they don't, students will have to surrender their license to practice medicine.

“We are considering a mandatory nine years for students who graduate from the medical school,” Park said.

Korea is benchmarking Japan where the Japanese government covers all tuition for students who fulfill nine years of mandatory training and practice after graduation.