Half of national medical school freshmen to be from regional areas next year, making Seoul student admission more difficult

Starting in the 2027 academic year, medical schools across South Korea will reserve nearly half of their incoming freshman class for students from regional areas. This significant policy shift means that out of the 3,508 students admitted to 39 medical schools nationwide, 1,734 will be exclusively selected from regional candidates.

This marks a record high for regional student admissions, with the proportion reaching 49.4%. The increase is attributed to the expanded "regional talent" admission quotas, a strategy designed to address the imbalance in medical school admissions between the capital region and other parts of the country.

The policy change is expected to make it considerably more difficult for students from Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area to gain admission to medical schools. While aiming to foster local talent and ensure a more equitable distribution of medical professionals, the move signifies a major restructuring of the medical school admissions landscape in South Korea.