Regional university hospitals in Korea struggle with empty beds and dwindling surgeries amid doctor shortages
Occupancy and surgical activity at nine national university hospitals outside Seoul have stalled, reflecting ongoing shortages of both trainees and senior physicians.
Figures disclosed by Rep. Seo Mi-hwa indicate that average bed occupancy at nine national university hospitals outside the Seoul area has stayed flat since 2024, with surgical output still markedly below the levels seen before the 2024 doctor-government dispute. Trainee doctors returned in large numbers from September 2025, yet Rep. Jeon Jin-sook reports a steady decline in the count of regular physicians over the past two years.
Specialist ratios per ten beds are roughly half of those at Seoul National University Hospital, a gap attributed to less attractive working conditions and a preference for Seoul positions, according to Rep. Park Yong-kab. The government’s regional doctor program aims to train new doctors for these hospitals, but Rep. Heo Jong-sik warns that many current specialists will retire before new graduates become fully qualified, risking further staffing gaps.
Why it matters
Shortages at regional hospitals threaten access to essential care for patients outside the capital.
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