A ruling Democratic Party lawmaker has submitted a bill to establish a national graduate school of medicine to foster doctors to work in public medical schools that the government aims to create.

Rep. Lee Soo-jin, who is on the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, submitted the bill Friday after consultations with the government.

Under the bill, graduates of the proposed school would be obligated to work at public medical institutions for 15 years in return for the state covering all their school expenses, including admission fees and tuition. 

The 15-year-period would not include residency programs or mandatory military service.

The central government and local governments would decide where to place each graduate. 

The central government plans to decide the school’s location and enrollment quota after the bill passes in parliament.