304 Applicants Registered for January Next Year’s Medical Written Exam... Less Than 10% of This Year’s Examinees

Jin Sun-mi Lawmaker: "We Must First Examine the Aftermath of the Medical Education System Suspension"

Amid a large number of medical students taking leave triggered by the conflict between the medical community and the government over the increase in medical school admissions, it has been reported that only 304 people have registered for the national medical licensing written exam scheduled for January next year.

According to data received by Jin Sun-mi, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, from the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute on the 13th, a total of 304 people applied for the 89th national medical licensing written exam, which closed registration on the 8th of last month.

The national medical licensing exam is held once a year, usually with the practical exam conducted in September to October, followed by the written exam in January of the following year. Eligible candidates include about 3,000 fourth-year medical students, previous year exam failures, and graduates from foreign medical schools.

Earlier, for the 88th written exam held in January this year, a total of 3,270 people registered and 3,212 took the exam. However, for the written exam in January next year, less than 10% of this year's number have expressed their intention to take the exam, so it is expected that only about 300 new doctors will be produced next year at most.

For the 89th practical exam held from September 2 to 24, 364 people registered, and 347 actually took the exam.

Representative Jin said, "The government and the ruling party have started a consultative body involving both ruling and opposition parties, medical professionals, and the government, excluding some opposition parties and medical organizations, to resolve the conflict between the medical community and the government. However, we must first assess the aftermath of the actual halt in the medical education system and present feasible solutions."