Shinan County attracts 6 applicants for high-paying senior doctor role

Shinan County, located in South Jeolla Province, has successfully attracted six applicants for a senior physician position offering a substantial monthly salary of 33 million won before taxes. This comes after previous recruitment efforts at significantly lower rates failed to attract any candidates.

According to a county official, seven individuals initially applied for the position, but one was disqualified due to incomplete documentation, leaving six eligible candidates. The applicants are from various regions, including Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and two from Damyang and Gwangju in South Jeolla Province.

The recruitment drive, which closed on the 18th, sought to hire one senior physician aged 60 or older. Applicants needed at least 20 years of clinical experience after obtaining a general medical license or 10 years of experience at a general hospital-level facility after obtaining a specialist license.

The offered compensation package was particularly attractive: 33 million won per month for a five-day work week and 26.4 million won for a four-day week. "The last recruitment notice before this one offered a monthly salary of 13 million won before taxes, but we had no applicants," the official noted. "It seems the increased salary has led to applications."

Shinan County has been struggling with a physician shortage. Between last year and early this year, three previous recruitment attempts offering 11 to 13 million won per month failed to secure any candidates. The number of public health doctors in the county has decreased by 28.6% from 21 in 2025 to 15 this year. Consequently, eight of the county's 16 health centers are currently without doctors, forcing a single public health doctor to cover up to four centers, making rounds once or twice a week.

Shinan County plans to conduct interviews on the 28th and announce the final candidate on the 31st.

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The last recruitment notice before this one offered a monthly salary of 13 million won before taxes, but we had no applicants. It seems the increased salary has led to applications.