The government is planning to address the medical shortage by implementing a policy called ‘excessive rain’ by the end of this month following a legislative notice. It seems that graduates of foreign medical schools who are Korean or Korean descendants will be the target. Doctors have expressed strong opposition, stating, “It would be better for the government not to do anything.”
As the shortage of medical professionals continues due to mass resignations, the government is interpreting the policy as a measure to fill the medical gap. Once the revised bill is implemented, foreign medical license holders are expected to be assigned to large hospitals starting at the end of this month.
With the confirmation of the medical school admission quota for the 2025 academic year at the end of this month, the risk of prolonged medical shortages due to a lack of returning specialists is being considered. Individuals such as Korean descendants and Koreans who graduated from foreign medical schools and obtained licenses are expected to be targeted. In response to this, doctors have expressed backlash, stating, “It would be better for the South Korean government not to intervene.”
According to the government and medical industry on the 9th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it will disclose part of the medical law enforcement regulations for revision by the 20th of this month. The revised bill allows foreign healthcare professionals with licenses to practice in Korea if the Minister of Health and Welfare recognizes the need for medical support in situations where the health crisis is as ‘serious’ as the current medical shortage crisis.
After the end of the legislative notice period, foreign medical license holders are expected to be able to practice medicine in Korea starting at the end of this month, with supervision by domestic specialists at designated locations such as healthcare hospitals where returning specialists have left. Given that the hardest hit areas are major hospitals like the ‘Big 5,’ it is likely that they will be assigned mainly to large hospitals. Their duties are expected to include assisting in surgeries, medical procedures, operating emergency rooms, and being on duty, which were previously performed by specialists.
While the revised bill allows foreign doctors to undergo government review and practice medicine in Korea, the main issue is communication in a foreign language. The government plans to assess the medical capabilities of foreign doctors before deploying them to the field. A Ministry of Health and Welfare official stated that foreign doctors will only be approved to practice medicine when they have the appropriate medical skills to ensure patient safety.
Both within and outside the medical industry, it is anticipated that Korean descendants or Koreans who studied at foreign medical schools and obtained licenses will be the main targets of this policy. Once the revised bill is implemented, it is expected that nearly 70% of foreign medical graduates who failed the medical exam in Korea will be given the opportunity to practice medicine in Korea.
Up until now, it has been quite difficult for those who graduated from foreign medical schools and obtained licenses locally to become doctors in South Korea due to complicated procedures. They must pass the written and practical examinations in Korea, as well as the national medical examination known as the ‘Medical National Examination’ (administered by the Korean Health and Medical Examination Institute) after obtaining a foreign medical license.
Currently, there are 159 foreign medical schools (from a total of 38 countries) recognized by the government which qualify for the Korean national medical examination support system. However, the percentage of graduates from these universities who have passed the Korean medical exams (written/practical) from 2005 to 2023 was only 55.4%. Moreover, the percentage of foreign medical graduates who ultimately obtained a Korean medical license after passing the preparatory exam and medical test was only 33.5%, meaning only one out of three.
Doctors have collectively criticized the government’s current policy, stating that it will greatly lower the level of medical care in Korea. Noh Hwan-gyu, former president of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), pointed out on Facebook that while Singapore only permits their local medical school graduates from Seoul National University and Yonsei University to take the national medical licensing examination under strict conditions, Japan requires passing both a language test and a medical licensing examination, which are unrelated to their alma mater. He criticized the Moon Jae-in government’s actions by likening them to a primary school student throwing a tantrum, saying, “If you don’t surrender first, then I’ll do whatever I want. Or is it adolescence?”
Chu Su-ho, former president of the KMA, also pointed out on Facebook that the idea of allowing foreign doctors with licenses to practice in Korea has caused fear among South Korean doctors, stating that it would be better for the South Korean government not to intervene sincerely from such thinking.
Lim Hyun-taek, current president of the KMA, criticized the government, saying, “Even though Korea’s medical knowledge is studied abroad, now they are trying to bring in low-quality medical personnel while leaving behind skilled Korean doctors.”