Korea moves to fast-track ‘regional doctor’ system despite fierce medical opposition

Despite concerns expressed by the medical community, the government and the governing party are accelerating efforts to establish a system for training regional doctors.

Some insiders forecast that new students could be selected through a regional doctor admissions track as early as the 2027 academic year.

The National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee will hold a public hearing during its plenary session on Monday to hear opinions from the medical, legal, and patient communities, followed by an immediate substantive review of the bills.

Currently, the National Assembly's Bill Review Subcommittee is considering a draft bill on the “Act on Fostering Regional Doctors.” This bill was proposed by Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Lee Su-jin, Kim Won-yi, and Kang Sun-woo. Another bill, the “Special Act on Resolving Regional Medical Disparities,” was proposed by People Power Party lawmaker Park Deok-heum. The government submitted a revised alternative proposal last September, based on these two bills.

The revised alternative proposal stipulates that a certain percentage of medical school admissions will be reserved for regional doctor candidates. In exchange for tuition support from the central and local governments, these doctors must serve a mandatory 10-year term in their designated region.

While doctors can choose their workplace within the assigned region, failure to comply may result in a corrective order followed by a license suspension within one year. Three or more suspensions could lead to license revocation. The selection ratio will be determined by an enforcement decree.

Party leadership and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok reaffirmed President Lee Jae-myung's pledge at a high-level party-government meeting on Nov. 9. The government expects the detailed plan for the regional doctor system to be finalized alongside the decision on the 2027 academic-year medical school quota. This decision is currently under review by the “Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Projection Committee.”

Some members of the medical community are strongly opposing the related legislation, calling it potentially unconstitutional.

The Korean Medical Association (KMA) outlined its opposition, emphasizing that the supply of essential and regional medical personnel should be fostered by creating an environment supporting voluntary participation rather than imposing mandatory service. The KMA argued that previous programs, such as the Public Health Scholarship System, failed because of a lack of applicants. Additionally, the association highlighted concerns that the 10-year mandatory service requirement poses significant constitutional issues.

In response to this opposition, the Ministry of Health and Welfare dismissed the constitutional controversy.

"The government believes the regional doctor system is not unconstitutional. Legal advice suggests that imposing a 10-year service requirement and allowing license revocation for non-compliance can be constitutionally implemented," ministry officials said.