Soonchunhyang University Produces Another Top Scorer in National Medical Licensing Exam

Soonchunhyang University Produces Top Scorer in National Medical Licensing Examination

Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine has once again produced the top scorer in the national medical licensing examination.

On January 23, Soonchunhyang University announced that Shin Hyewon, a fourth-year student in the Department of Medicine at the College of Medicine, passed the 90th National Medical Licensing Examination for 2026 as the nationwide top scorer, achieving 306 points out of a possible 320.

This year's national medical licensing examination was held on January 8 and 9. Out of a total of 1,078 candidates, 818 passed. The overall pass rate was 75.9%. Despite a significant decrease in both the number of examinees and successful candidates compared to previous years due to ongoing conflicts between the government and the medical community, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine achieved outstanding results.

Student Shin Hyewon. Courtesy of Soonchunhyang University

Shin Hyewon stated, "I want to become a good doctor who thinks of patients and communicates with them," and added, "I will always strive to be a competent doctor who remains faithful to the basics." She emphasized that focusing on understanding concepts and creating her own handwritten notes greatly helped her studies.

Regarding her choice of specialty, she said, "After obtaining my medical license, I plan to find my aptitude during the internship process. Although I have not made a final decision yet, I am interested in the field of surgery."

Previously, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine also produced the nationwide top scorer (graduate Jung Hyunwoo) in the 88th National Medical Licensing Examination in 2024. In addition, at the 2025 Basic Medical Science Comprehensive Assessment organized by the Korean Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC) for first-year medical students nationwide last December, Kim Minwook, a first-year student in the Department of Medicine, ranked first nationwide.

The number of successful candidates in the national medical licensing examination dropped sharply due to last year's conflict between the government and the medical community: 5,786 in 2022 (pass rate 95.8%), 3,181 in 2023 (pass rate 94.7%), and 3,045 in 2024 (pass rate 94.2%), but only 269 last year. The pass rate at that time was only 70.4%.

To secure a sufficient medical workforce and ensure continuity in training, the government plans to hold an additional round of the national medical licensing examination this August for about 1,800 prospective doctors who returned last year and are about to graduate.