Which universities will host South Korea’s two new regional medical schools, and how many students will they admit?

Sunchon National University in Suncheon will admit 60 students annually, while Gyeongkuk National University in Andong will admit 40. Both schools are scheduled to begin admissions in 2030.

Why did the government select North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla for new medical schools?

A government task force found that both provinces had poor access to medical services and needed a foundation for training and retaining physicians. The initiative is intended to improve provincial healthcare and address shortages in essential fields such as pediatrics and surgery.

Why did Mokpo National University challenge South Jeolla’s choice of Sunchon National University?

The universities had initially sought to host a medical school jointly after a planned merger, but merger discussions stalled. Mokpo protested the local research institute’s evaluation as hasty and unfair and sought a re-examination; the education ministry later said it found no significant legal or procedural flaws in the province’s recommendation.

Gov't announces successful candidates to host two new regional medical schools

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Summary

The education ministry announced Wednesday that Sunchon National University in Suncheon and Gyeongkuk National University in Andong will host two new regional medical schools. Starting in 2030, the schools will admit 60 and 40 students annually, respectively. The initiative aims to improve access to medical services in areas without medical schools and address shortages in essential fields. The ministry said its review found no significant legal or procedural flaws in South Jeolla Province’s recommendation of Sunchon.

Key Facts

A government task force selected North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla provinces as sites after finding poor access to medical services and a need to train and retain physicians there.
Sunchon National University and Mokpo National University had sought to jointly host a medical school following a proposed merger, but merger discussions stalled.
Mokpo National University protested the evaluation as hasty and unfair and demanded a re-examination of its application.
A lawmaker representing Mokpo went on a hunger strike last month to protest South Jeolla Province’s decision.
The government plans to form regional steering committees involving local governments, universities and experts, with a support body from the education and health ministries assisting the rollout.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 4, 2026 2:48 pm KST

The proposed site for Sunchon National University's medical school and university hospital in Sunchon, Jeonnam-Gwnagju Metropolitan City / Yonhap

SEJONG — Two new medical schools will be established at Sunchon National University in the southwestern city of Suncheon and Gyeongkuk National University in the southeastern city of Andong, the education ministry announced Wednesday.

Starting in 2030, Sunchon and Gyeongkuk universities will admit 60 and 40 medical students annually, respectively.

The decision came as part of a key government initiative to establish new medical colleges in regions without medical schools in an effort to improve access to medical services in provincial areas, strengthen public healthcare and address shortages of doctors in essential fields, such as pediatrics and surgery.

A government task force comprising officials from the education and health ministries first selected North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla provinces as sites for the new medical schools after finding they suffer from poor access to medical services and need a foundation for training and retaining physicians.

The government then requested the provincial governments to propose suitable universities to host the schools.

While the North Gyeongsang provincial government recommended Gyeongkuk National University, the selection process in South Jeolla Province faced friction.

Sunchon National University and Mokpo National University had originally sought to jointly host a new medical school following their envisioned merger, but discussions over their merger stalled.

The provincial government of South Jeolla recommended Sunchon National University be named the host of a new medical school based on the evaluation of candidates by a local research institute.

Mokpo National University strongly protested the outcome of the evaluation, claiming the review was done hastily and unfairly, and demanded a re-examination of its application. A lawmaker representing Mokpo even went on a hunger strike last month to protest the provincial government's decision.

The education ministry said it reviewed the entire recommendation process and concluded there were no legal or procedural flaws significant enough to reject the province's proposal.

The government said it will form regional steering committees involving local governments, universities and experts in both provinces to support the rollout, along with a support body, comprising officials from the education and health ministries, to assist the overall process.

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