Trying Again for Seoul Medical Schools: 80% of Dropouts Came From Regional Universities

Eight in 10 students who dropped out of medical schools in South Korea last year were enrolled at regional universities, according to an analysis by Jongno Academy. The pattern appears to reflect students trying to reapply to medical schools in the Seoul metropolitan area.

The analysis, based on data from the Higher Education in Korea website, covered 39 medical schools. It found 383 dropouts last year, nearly the same as the 386 recorded in 2024, when a planned expansion of medical-school enrollment contributed to a sharp increase. The figures stood at 178 in 2022 and 201 in 2023.

Regional universities accounted for 301 of last year's dropouts, or 78.6%. Universities in Seoul accounted for 48, or 12.5%, while those in the Gyeongin area accounted for 34, or 8.9%.

The three universities with the highest numbers were all regional institutions. Kangwon National University's medical school recorded 22 dropouts, more than five times the four recorded in 2023. Wonkwang University followed with 18, while Gyeongsang National University and Dankook University each recorded 17. Seoul National University, Korea University, Ewha Womans University and Konyang University reported the fewest, with two each.