A poster announcing the recruitment of trainee doctors is posted at a general hospital in Seoul on Aug. 9, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – As the South Korean government moves to address medical shortages by allowing foreign-licensed doctors to practice, new data reveals that only 54.5% of foreign medical school graduates passed a key qualifying exam, raising concerns about the quality of care such a policy might introduce.
The preliminary examination for medical licenses, a prerequisite for foreign medical graduates seeking to practice in South Korea, saw 101 applicants from 16 countries attempt the practical skills portion this July.
Only 55 candidates succeeded, according to data obtained by Jeon Jin-sook, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, from the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute.
The exam, introduced in 2005, consists of written and practical components and serves as a gateway for foreign-trained doctors before they can take the national medical licensing exam.
Hungary, with 67 applicants, dominated the pool of test-takers, followed by Uzbekistan with 6, and the United States and Russia with 5 each.
Pass rates varied significantly by country of origin: 61.2% for Hungary, 16.7% for Uzbekistan, 20% for the United States, and 40% for Russia. Notably, single applicants from Japan, Taiwan, Belarus, and Grenada all failed to pass.
The overall pass rate for foreign medical graduates since the exam’s inception in 2005 stands at a mere 55.4%, with only 235 out of 424 applicants succeeding over 19 years.
Furthermore, only 41.4% of foreign medical graduates have managed to obtain a South Korean medical license after passing both the preliminary exam and the national licensing exam.
These statistics come to light as the Ministry of Health and Welfare proposed amendments to medical regulations in May, amid ongoing disputes with the medical community.
The changes would allow foreign-licensed doctors to practice in South Korea during severe healthcare crises without undergoing the current rigorous licensing process.
Under existing laws, foreign doctors must graduate from a ministry-approved medical school, obtain a license in their home country, and then pass the Korean medical licensing exam to practice domestically.
Jeon expressed concern over the proposed changes, stating, “There’s a possibility that foreign medical school graduates could enter without taking the preliminary exam and national exam if the government revises the medical law enforcement rules, despite the low pass rate on the preliminary exam.”
She emphasized the differences in medical education across countries, noting variations in patient characteristics and common diseases.
“For the sake of public health and safety, the plan to introduce foreign licensed doctors should be fundamentally reconsidered,” Jeon argued.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
