South Korea to Decide on Medical School Quota IncreaseImported Car Sales Drop 19 Percent in South Korea Due to Slower EV Demand
SEOUL—The South Korean health ministry is set to discuss and likely decide on increasing the enrollment quotas for medical schools during a medical workforce policy meeting scheduled for Tuesday, according to an official statement made on Monday. This move comes in response to projections that the country will face a shortfall of approximately 15,000 doctors by 2035. If approved, this will mark the first increase in medical school enrollment quotas in 19 years, with current caps set at 3,058 students annually. Speculation suggests the quota could rise by up to 2,000 additional spots.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the government is acutely aware of the sensitivity surrounding this issue and plans to announce the exact scope of the quota increase on the day of the meeting. This decision is part of broader efforts to address the persistent shortage of medical professionals in rural and remote areas, as well as in critical medical fields such as pediatrics and emergency care. In an attempt to incentivize the medical community, the government has committed to allocating 10 trillion won ($7.5 billion) by 2028 to improve compensation for medical services in these essential areas and to encourage more doctors to work in higher-risk sectors. Additionally, a “safety net” is proposed to limit doctors’ criminal liability in malpractice cases, aiming to prioritize emergency treatments while ensuring rapid compensation for patients.
SEOUL—In South Korea, sales of imported vehicles experienced a 19 percent decline in January compared to the same month last year, primarily due to a decrease in electric vehicle (EV) sales, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA). The total of newly registered imported cars in January amounted to 13,083 units, a fall from 16,222 units in the previous year. KAIDA highlighted several factors contributing to this downturn, including seasonal demand fluctuations, uncertainty regarding government subsidies for EVs, and inventory shortages for certain brands.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the three most popular models for the month were the BMW 520 sedan, Mercedes-Benz’s E300 4MATIC sedan, and the Lexus ES300h sedan. Sales figures for German brands in South Korea, including Volkswagen Group Korea, BMW Group Korea, and Mercedes-Benz Korea, saw a significant decrease, with a combined total of 8,170 units sold—down 34 percent from 12,365 units the previous year. Despite this, German cars constituted 62 percent of the imported car sales in January, a slight decrease from the previous year’s 76 percent market share.
Japanese car manufacturers, on the other hand, witnessed a remarkable increase in their sales. Honda Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., and Lexus together sold 1,961 units in January, more than doubling their sales from 910 units a year earlier. Imported brands overall accounted for 21.65 percent of the Korean passenger vehicle market in December, a slight increase from 20.98 percent the previous year. The market share of imported vehicles for January is still awaiting release.