National Assembly sees surge in bills for new medical schools

As soon as the 22nd National Assembly opened, bills to establish new medical schools began pouring in.

Rep. Kim Jung-jae of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has introduced a bill for the "Postech Medical School Support Act," followed by Rep. Kim Won-i of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who proposed a bill for the “Mokpo Medical University Establishment Act.”

The DPK lawmaker, who hails from Mokpo, also pushed establishing a medical school in South Jeolla Province during the 21st Assembly.

On Tuesday, Rep. Kim Won-i submitted the “Special Bill on the Establishment of Mokpo National University College of Medicine” to the National Assembly. The bill aims to establish a medical school at Mokpo National University with an enrollment quota of 100 students to train doctors to serve local public medical institutions. It was the same bill submitted to the 21st National Assembly.

The bill calls for establishing Mokpo National University College of Medicine and selecting a certain percentage of students as part of the “regional public healthcare program.” The central government will subsidize the tuition, fees, textbooks, and dormitory expenses of selected students.

Instead, after obtaining a doctor's license, they must serve at regional public medical institutions in South Jeolla Province for 10 years. The 10-year mandatory service period does not include military service, periods for suspended licenses, and training as interns and residents. If they undergo specialty training at a medical institution designated by the government or major in a specific specialty, half of such periods will be recognized as the compulsory service period.

If students fail to pass the national medical examination within three years after graduation or have their medical license revoked during compulsory service, they must return the subsidized tuition plus statutory interest.

The bill also includes state support for expenses necessary to create and operate facilities and equipment at the proposed Mokpo National University College of Medicine.

It is pointed out that medical school enrollment quota increase alone cannot revive regional medical care, which is on the verge of collapse," Rep. Kim Won-I said. "The idea of building a medical school in a national university in South Jeolla Province, the only province without a medical school, is gaining public support to close the medical gap."

Kim recalled that President Yoon Suk Yeol also said at a regional public forum in March that he would push for a medical school in South Jeolla Province if the provincial residents told him which university to choose.

“We call for establishing a medical school at Mokpo National University,” he added.