Approximately six out of ten new students at local medical schools are selected from the region, indicating significant success of the 'mandatory regional talent selection' system. The Ministry of Education has publicly released the selection results for the first time since the system's implementation, noting that a positive cycle is quickly establishing itself as local talent enrolls and settles in regional medical schools.
On July 28, the Ministry announced the '2026 results of mandatory regional talent selection for local universities' for the first time since the system was introduced in the 2023 academic year.
According to the 'Act on the Promotion of Local Universities and Balanced Regional Development,' local universities outside the metropolitan area are required to select a certain percentage of new students in medical fields (medicine, dentistry, Korean medicine, pharmacy, nursing) and professional graduate schools from local talent. They are also mandated to select a minimum number of low-income local students.
The success of the system is most evident in medical schools, which attract top-tier students. This year, the regional talent selection rate at 26 local medical schools reached 59.4%, a 13.2 percentage point increase from 46.2% in the 2022 academic year before the mandate was introduced. This means that out of 2,079 total new students, 1,234 were selected as local talent (including 48 low-income students), demonstrating a broader foundation for local talent to pursue medical education.
However, not all universities fully complied with the legal requirements. Two medical schools, Hallym University in Gangwon Province (16.5% selected/20% required) and Soonchunhyang University in Chungcheong Province (39.8% selected/40% required), did not meet the mandatory selection rate.
Four medical schools (15.4%) also failed to meet the mandatory selection of low-income local talent: Kyungpook National University, Kosin University, Yonsei University’s Future Campus, and Wonkwang University.
The situation is similar in other fields (dentistry, Korean medicine, pharmacy, nursing, professional graduate schools). Among 204 departments subject to mandatory regional talent selection, 14 (6.9%) did not comply, and among 193 departments required to select low-income local talent, 28 (14.5%) fell short of the legal requirements.
The Ministry of Education explained that the noncompliance by some universities is due to the fact that compliance is judged based on 'final selection results' rather than 'selection plans.' This means that unexpected withdrawals by accepted students or failures to meet minimum academic standards can create vacancies that are difficult for universities to control. Additionally, some regions or departments face challenges in student recruitment due to geographical characteristics.
The Ministry plans to receive corrective action plans from universities that did not meet the legal requirements and will continuously monitor their implementation. They also intend to analyze the causes of noncompliance by field and region to develop structural improvements to the system.
Lee Joo-hee, a university support officer at the Ministry of Education, stated, "The mandatory regional talent selection system is a key foundation for creating a positive cycle where excellent local talent grows and settles in the region, and it is quickly taking root in local universities. We will transparently disclose selection results each year and identify improvement tasks to ensure the system operates effectively within local conditions."
On July 28, the Ministry announced the '2026 results of mandatory regional talent selection for local universities' for the first time since the system was introduced in the 2023 academic year.
According to the 'Act on the Promotion of Local Universities and Balanced Regional Development,' local universities outside the metropolitan area are required to select a certain percentage of new students in medical fields (medicine, dentistry, Korean medicine, pharmacy, nursing) and professional graduate schools from local talent. They are also mandated to select a minimum number of low-income local students.
The success of the system is most evident in medical schools, which attract top-tier students. This year, the regional talent selection rate at 26 local medical schools reached 59.4%, a 13.2 percentage point increase from 46.2% in the 2022 academic year before the mandate was introduced. This means that out of 2,079 total new students, 1,234 were selected as local talent (including 48 low-income students), demonstrating a broader foundation for local talent to pursue medical education.
However, not all universities fully complied with the legal requirements. Two medical schools, Hallym University in Gangwon Province (16.5% selected/20% required) and Soonchunhyang University in Chungcheong Province (39.8% selected/40% required), did not meet the mandatory selection rate.
Four medical schools (15.4%) also failed to meet the mandatory selection of low-income local talent: Kyungpook National University, Kosin University, Yonsei University’s Future Campus, and Wonkwang University.
The situation is similar in other fields (dentistry, Korean medicine, pharmacy, nursing, professional graduate schools). Among 204 departments subject to mandatory regional talent selection, 14 (6.9%) did not comply, and among 193 departments required to select low-income local talent, 28 (14.5%) fell short of the legal requirements.
The Ministry of Education explained that the noncompliance by some universities is due to the fact that compliance is judged based on 'final selection results' rather than 'selection plans.' This means that unexpected withdrawals by accepted students or failures to meet minimum academic standards can create vacancies that are difficult for universities to control. Additionally, some regions or departments face challenges in student recruitment due to geographical characteristics.
The Ministry plans to receive corrective action plans from universities that did not meet the legal requirements and will continuously monitor their implementation. They also intend to analyze the causes of noncompliance by field and region to develop structural improvements to the system.
Lee Joo-hee, a university support officer at the Ministry of Education, stated, "The mandatory regional talent selection system is a key foundation for creating a positive cycle where excellent local talent grows and settles in the region, and it is quickly taking root in local universities. We will transparently disclose selection results each year and identify improvement tasks to ensure the system operates effectively within local conditions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.