North Gyeongsang education office welcomes new medical school, pledges support for local students

The North Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education said Thursday it expects the establishment of a medical school at Gyeongkuk National University to serve as a key opportunity to address regional healthcare disparities and strengthen the competitiveness of public education in North Gyeongsang Province.

The education office plans to work with Gyeongkuk National University to help design a local-talent admissions track that ensures students from the province can benefit directly from the new medical school.

It will also focus on nurturing locally rooted students with strong academic ability and character in time for the school's planned opening in the 2030 academic year.

To that end, the office will support tailored medical and health-related curricula linked to the high school credit system and strengthen college admissions consulting through the North Gyeongsang College Entrance Support Center. It also plans to expand academic achievement programs — including a provincial College Scholastic Ability Test mock exam, a regional four-district study hall program and the establishment of self-directed learning centers — to boost students' competitiveness in medical school admissions.

The office will also build a cooperative framework with North Gyeongsang Province, local governments and Gyeongkuk National University to continuously advance education support aimed at developing local talent and encouraging graduates to settle in the region.

"The essence of establishing a medical school is not simply securing enrollment slots, but creating a virtuous cycle in which talent raised in North Gyeongsang Province settles here and takes responsibility for essential medical care," North Gyeongsang Provincial Superintendent of Education Im Jong-sik said. "We will design the local-talent admissions track with precision so that North Gyeongsang students can be the first to benefit."