Accounts for 80% of local medical school dropouts... Estimated purpose of re-entering the metropolitan area

(Sejong = Yonhap News) Reporter Sangmin Ko = Approximately 80% of students who dropped out of medical schools across the country last year were found to have graduated from local medical schools.

It is presumed that the majority of them dropped out in order to re-enter medical schools in the metropolitan area.

As a result of Jongno Academy's analysis of university information announcement data on the 6th, a total of 383 students dropped out of 39 medical schools across the country last year.

Dropout refers to dropping out of school due to dropping out, not registering, or not returning to school.

The number of medical school dropouts increased significantly from 178 in 2022 to 201 in 2023 and 386 in 2024, and was at a similar level last year at 383.

The number of people who dropped out last year increased by 205 (115.2%) compared to 2022.

It is analyzed that the sharp increase in the number of dropouts in 2024 was due to the increase in the number of medical school recruits for the 2025 school year by about 1,500 from the existing 3,058. The number of students enrolled in the 2026 school year was reduced again to 3,058.

Dropouts were especially concentrated at medical schools in regional areas.

Of the 383 students who dropped out last year, 301 were medical students from non-metropolitan areas, accounting for 78.6%. There were 48 people (12.5%) in the Seoul area and 34 people (8.9%) in the Gyeongin area.

By university, Kangwon National University had the most with 22 people. This was followed by Wonkwang University with 18 students, Gyeongsang National University and Dankook University Cheonan Campus with 17 students each, and Hanyang University with 16 students.

The universities with the fewest number of medical school dropouts nationwide were Seoul National University, Korea University, Ewha Womans University, and Konyang University, with only two students each.

Jongno Academy cited ‘re-entry’ into medical schools in the metropolitan area as the reason for the increase in the number of dropouts from medical schools in regional areas.

Due to the expansion of local talent selection, the number of top local students entering local medical schools has increased, but it is highly likely that some of them have dropped out of school to return to medical schools in the metropolitan area.

Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy, said, "With the introduction of the regional doctor system in the 2027 school year, the number of local students entering medical schools will increase. Based on the current trend, it is expected that these students will also increase their movement to top medical schools."