Korea reviews establishment of science-focused medical schools at KAIST, POSTECH

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The South Korean government is mulling the idea of allowing the country’s top research universities to establish medical schools amid shortages of doctors in vital departments.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Monday, the government is actively considering allowing the establishment of a medical school at the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST) and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH).

“Interagency discussion has begun, with ongoing consultations with stakeholders in various fields,” government sources said.

A negotiation about the admission quotas for medical colleges has been underway. The government plans to discuss the proposals in the upcoming consultation meetings.

KAIST and POSTECH are the country’s best-known science and technology institutions. The decision to establish scientific medical schools will indicate the government’s determination to foster research doctors who specialize in developing novel medicine and therapy based on science and engineering technology.

KAIST has recently documented its focus on fostering biomedical engineers.