The Korean government has announced plans to increase medical school enrollment by an average of 668 students annually over the next five years, starting in 2027. Additionally, new medical schools will be established in regions currently lacking such institutions by 2030. Democratic Party lawmakers with ties to Jeonnam province have warmly welcomed this news and pledged to expedite the opening of these schools.
Kim Won Yi, who also chairs the Democratic Party’s Jeonnam chapter, wrote on Facebook Tuesday that his top campaign pledge was finally becoming reality and that he was deeply moved, adding that the establishment of a medical school in Mokpo, his highest priority, was now coming to fruition.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced that by 2030, both public medical schools and newly established regional medical schools will each enroll 100 students, increasing the total by 813 students by 2031. Over five years, enrollment will rise by 3,342 students, with 490 in 2027 and 613 in each of 2028 and 2029.
In response, Kim said that he wholeheartedly welcomed the news alongside the citizens of Mokpo. He added that while the government is projecting a 2030 opening, that is too far off, and argued that, given island residents who rely on air ambulances and Mokpo residents who must travel for emergency care, action is needed quickly. He said he would push to move the opening up to 2028.
Kim reflected on his four-year tenure on the Health and Welfare Committee in the 21st Congress. He consistently highlighted the healthcare disparities in southwestern Jeonnam during oversight hearings with three different health secretaries, advocating for a Mokpo medical school. In his final year on the committee, he even shaved his head in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office to draw attention to the issue.
He also said that Mokpo and Jeonnam’s “30-year dream” is finally bearing fruit under the Lee Jae Myung administration, thanks to the citizens of Mokpo. He acknowledged those who worked together to secure the medical school and added that he is committed to getting the Mokpo medical school established by working hand in hand with the community.
Seo Mi Hwa, a Democratic Party member of the Health and Welfare Committee, has also advocated for enrollment allocations for the integrated national medical school in Jeonnam since the 22nd Congress convened. Seo, who has ties to Mokpo, said that the Jeonnam integrated national medical school is not just a local project but a new model for strengthening regional, essential, and public healthcare.
However, she emphasized the need for close cooperation between federal and local authorities to expedite the school’s opening before 2030, facilitating student recruitment and healthcare professional training.
Seo has reportedly been a civil society advocate for over three decades, championing the establishment of a medical school in Jeonnam – the only major region in the country without one. She even spearheaded a million-signature campaign to bring a medical school to Mokpo.
She has maintained ongoing dialogue with the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, pushing for enrollment allocations for the Jeonnam integrated national medical school. By introducing special legislation for establishing the National Jeonnam Integrated University Medical School and hospital, she’s laid the groundwork for enrollment allocation, new facilities, and government support.
Seo concluded that the first crucial step has been taken toward realizing Jeonnam residents’ 36-year aspiration. He will work tirelessly to speed up university integration and ensure rapid student recruitment, the opening of the medical school, and the establishment of the hospital.