Government confirms establishment of the first National Graduate School of Medicine in Namwon, Jeonbuk

The government has finalized Jeonbuk Namwon as the site for the first national medical school (National Medical School) to train public healthcare personnel. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said that at the preparatory committee meeting held on the 1st, Namwon City was resolved as the final location. The National Medical School is being pursued with the goal of opening in 2029 and admitting its first class in 2030. The enrollment quota has been set at 100 students, and the plan is to train public healthcare personnel in various fields such as public hospitals, infectious disease response, fire services, industrial accidents, veterans' affairs, and global health. The government will support students' tuition and dormitory fees, and graduates must fulfill a mandatory 15year service period at public medical institutions or administrative agencies designated by the government. The first graduates are expected to come out in 2034, and if residency training is included, the actual production of specialized public healthcare personnel is projected to begin after 2038. However, along with criticism that the site selection process was not sufficiently compared, concerns were also raised that political considerations may have influenced the decision. The government views securing faculty and establishing an educational foundation as key tasks going forward.