Surge in Foreign Medical Graduates Passing Korea's Preliminary Medical Exam

The number of foreign medical graduates passing Korea's preliminary medical exam, a requirement to take the national medical licensing exam, has more than tripled in just one year. According to the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute (국시원), 172 out of 194 candidates passed the second round of the 21st preliminary medical exam held on July 11, 2025. This figure is 3.1 times higher than last year's record of 55 successful candidates.

The preliminary medical exam, established in 2005, allows graduates from recognized foreign medical schools to qualify for the Korean national exam. Until 2014, the number of passers was in single digits, but it has gradually increased, with 10 in 2015, 30 in 2017, 43 in 2021, and 55 last year.

With this significant rise in successful candidates from overseas universities, it is anticipated that the number of foreign graduates passing the main national exam, set to be announced early next year, will also increase. In January, 52 foreign medical graduates passed the national exam, which was notable as the number of domestic candidates had decreased significantly due to a conflict in the medical community, leading to a 19.3% representation of foreign graduates among the total passers.

Additionally, the number of residents at the 'Big 5' hospitals (서울대, 서울아산, 세브란스, 삼성서울, 서울성모) has more than doubled compared to the end of last year, thanks to returning residents in the first half of this year. As reported by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, there are currently 548 residents (113 interns and 435 residents) at these hospitals, which is 2.4 times the 230 residents (17 interns and 213 residents) recorded in December 2024.

The increase in residents is attributed to some individuals choosing to return as the conflict in the medical community continues. However, the total number of residents across the country remains at only 20% of the pre-conflict levels.