South Korea is set to increase medical school admissions by over 3,340 students from 2027 to 2031, aiming to address a looming physician shortage in the rapidly aging nation. This decision, announced by Health Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong, will raise the annual admissions cap from 3,058 to 3,548 in 2027, with further increases reaching 3,871 by 2031, as reported by The Frontier Post and WFTV. The plan, which averages an increase of 668 students per year, is significantly smaller than the 2,000-per-year hike proposed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, which had led to a prolonged doctors' strike. Despite the scaled-down approach, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) criticized the move as 'devoid of rational judgment,' arguing that it would overwhelm medical schools and lead to confusion in the sector, as noted by Arirang News and WTOP.