How to Become a Medical Doctor in Korea (Step by Step) | 202212 min read

Being a medical doctor in Korea will be a great experience that comes with exposure to equipment that enhances medical care. If you looking to study medicine in Korea or attend any of the medical schools in Korea, then this article is for you.

Being a doctor in Korea is a great opportunity for most people. While the income is decent, the added benefits are even better. To become a doctor, many foreigners aspire to study in Korea.

Korea is one of Asia’s most rapidly developing countries. South Korea is well-known for its culture, but it also has a lot more to offer visitors.

There are several benefits of moving to Korea and earning a medical degree in the country. Degrees in medicine are particularly popular in South Korea, which offers a diverse selection.

Thus, this article will explain the tips to become a doctor in Korea and help you learn about the study of medicine in Korea.

Studying Medicine in Korea:

Studying and teaching in a foreign country is both difficult and rewarding at the same time. Korean colleges teach medicine in their original language so that future doctors can fully comprehend and comprehend their teachings.

There are various medical schools in Korea that accept students from outside the country. Even on their official websites, international offices for students who plan to study medicine are listed.

For international students, pursuing a medical degree in Korea can be a challenge. Only a few candidates are accepted into Korean medical schools, and the admissions exam is exceedingly rigorous compared to other programs.

On the other hand, there is only approximately 5% of students graduate from Korean medical schools each year, but those who finish the six-year program are much rarer. Studying medicine in Korea, then, is a challenge, but not out of reach.

Requirements for becoming a Medical Doctor in Korea:

Language Requirements:

In the study of medicine in Korea, you need to know how to speak Korea. However, learning Korean can be challenging but not impossible if you don’t already speak Chinese or Japanese.

Basic Korean can be learned in three months by beginners, but fluency takes two years of dedicated study. Moreover, learning the Korean alphabet, or hanja, is the first step in the process.

There are certain differences between Latin and Chinese, yet it is easier to learn than Chinese. It is required that you learn Korean in order to practice medicine in Korea.

Academic Requirements:

The amount of time it takes to complete a medical degree and then specialize in a particular field in Korea is at least six years.

If you are an international or foreign student, you must meet all of the prerequisites before beginning your undergraduate degree.

The documents for academics include:

• Your high school report card
• Previous educational history
• Passport and university application paperwork
• A Korean language proficiency test and a student visa are all included in these documents.
• If you attended a non-English school, you may be required to take an IELTS or a TOEFL to demonstrate your ability in English.

Curriculum Requirements:

There is essentially no difference in the medical curriculum between Korea and other countries, however, the time of study is slightly longer. There is no field specialization required to receive a medical degree in Korea.

Pre-medical training will take up the first two or four years of the program. Pre-clinical basic science, including hospital visits and patient interaction, will be the sole focus of the next two years.

Finally, clinical rotations are similar to internships, but they aren’t exactly the same as internships. Students will work in shifts with the help of professionals.

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How to Become a Medical Doctor in Korea:

When it comes to East Asian countries and the world at large, South Korea is among the best-developed nations. There are more than 25 million people living in the greater Seoul area, making it the world’s fifth-largest city.

Here are the tips on how to become a medical doctor in Korea:

Learn to Speak Korea:

The first stage in learning Korean is to master the Hangul alphabet, which is very different from Latin and can be quite a struggle, but it is also a lot easier than Chinese.

If you study 7 to 10 hours a week, you should be able to hold a three-minute conversation in Korean in roughly three months or 90 days. Furthermore, if you keep up this pace for a year, you will be able to converse fluently in Korean.

Study Medicine in Korea:

Students who plan to become doctors in Korea can begin by studying medicine in the country will help them immerse themselves in the language and culture, as well as prepare them for their future careers.

It is estimated that graduation takes 6 years. The first two years are devoted solely to general education, while the next two are devoted to the study of medical science.

Students in their final two years of schooling are required to complete practical/clinical training.

Take Assessments:

Korean-approved medical degrees must be obtained before you can sit for the final exam that will award your authorization to practice medicine in the country.

An internationally renowned university or one in Korea can award this diploma. If you are not a graduate of a recognized university, you may need to spend a few more semesters at a Korean university or take a qualifying exam before you can appear for the final exam.

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Medical License/ KMLE:

KMLE (Korean Medical Licensing Examination) is an important exam you need to become a doctor in Korea.

Korean medical licensing examination is designed to determine if candidates have the knowledge and abilities necessary to practice primary care medicine, as well as a professional demeanor.

The number of non-Koreans passing this exam can be as low as zero in some years.

But, if you’re not fluent in Korean, you may want to focus on that first before preparing for the exam, which takes about a year to complete and is conducted entirely in Korean.

Moreover, most Korean doctors pass this exam, while only a small percentage of those with non-Korean medical degrees do. This exam, like the Preliminary Exam, has both written and practical components.

Get a Work Permit:

The E-5 (Special Occupation) visa is the type of visa you’ll require if you’re a doctor. You will, nevertheless, need to take and pass the KMLE exam to practice medicine in Korea, with very few exceptions, even if you have a foreign degree.

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How to be a Medical Doctor in Korea as a foreigner:

Foreign doctors seeking certification in Korea face a lengthy and demanding process. To begin, the applicant must hold a doctor’s license and a medical degree from their home country.

They can now sit for the KMLE certification exam. Candidates must also pass a qualification exam, which can take up to two years to study for if their medical degree is not recognized by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW).

The majority of MOHW-recognized universities are located in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, and other nations.

Only a handful of foreign doctors pass the KMLE exam, which is administered in Korean and requires a high level of fluency in the language.

Top 10 Medical Schools in Korea | 2022

• Seoul National University (SNU) College of Medicine
• Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) School of Medicine
• Yonsei University College of Medicine
• University of Ulsan College of Medicine
• Korea University College of Medicine
• College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
• Kyungpook National University (KNU) School of Medicine
• Pusan National University (PNU) School of Medicine
• Inje University College of Medicine
• Hanyang University College of Medicine

Seoul National University (SNU) College of Medicine:

The SNU College of Medicine was established in 1889 and is considered one of the best medical schools in Korea.

The medical schools place a premium on developing Kindhearted Leaders who Value Principles. Graduate school allows aspiring physicians to concentrate in one of three areas: medicine, clinical medicine, or biomedical sciences.

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University of Ulsan College of Medicine:

University of Ulsan College of Medicine is one of the best medical schools in Korea.

The University of Ulsan frequently appears on lists of the world’s top universities compiled by recognized survey organizations such as QS, THE, and CWUR.

In medical and life sciences, we are ranked among the top ten universities in Korea, and in biology, chemistry, and material science, we are ranked among the top twenty.

Consider the school to be one of the best private institutions in Korea.

Their exceptional accomplishment is the consequence of our unwavering commitment to practical education and research, founded on the bedrock of daring and adventure that underpins Korea’s brilliant success today.

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Pusan National University (PNU) School of Medicine:

The School of Medicine at Pusan National University (PNU) is ranked second among Korea’s public universities.

Apart from producing great physicians, this Korean medical school takes pleasure in grooming future world leaders in medicine. Additionally, it emphasizes worldwide and interdisciplinary research.

To be a medical doctor in Korea especially at PNU, you need to be ready for exotic researches.

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Hanyang University College of Medicine:

Hanyang University College of Medicine is one of Korea’s most prestigious medical schools. While the College of Medicine was envisioned in 1965, it was not until 1968 that the school began accepting its first class of 80 students.

Students at Hanyang have the option of completing their clinical rotations at the prestigious Hanyang University Medical Center. Hanyang University Guri Hospital,

as well as the renowned Hanyang University International Hospital, are included in this system.

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Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) School of Medicine:

Sungkyunkwan University’s (SKKU) School of Medicine was founded in 1398 under the Joseon dynasty, making it one of the best medical schools in Korea. 

The Medical Building is a nine-story structure that houses a range of educational and research facilities, including multimedia classrooms, problem-solving laboratories, conference rooms, and a huge auditorium for academic symposiums.

The high-speed network connects not just on-campus, but also to affiliated hospitals located off-campus.

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Korea University College of Medicine:

Korea University College of Medicine is one of the country’s most prestigious medical schools. Initially, the College of Medicine was established to educate female physicians in the field of western medicine.

Beyond producing respected female physicians, the school has made tremendous strides since then.

The college has produced a number of Korea’s finest female and male physicians, guided by its ideology of developing doctors with high ethics.

Apart from imparting a sound understanding of preclinical and clinical medicine, this medical school in Korea encourages its students to participate in international exchanges and community service projects.

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Yonsei University College of Medicine:

Yonsei University College of Medicine is one of the best and oldest medical schools in Korea.

YUCM will aspire to be the most dependable medical institution by valuing patients and providing high-quality care through advanced technology, expertise, and collaboration with other medical institutions.

The elite few are educated via an intuitive problem-based learning method under the direction of more than 550 full-time academic members.

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Inje University College of Medicine:

Inje University College of Medicine is one of Korea’s most prestigious medical schools.

The College of Medicine was founded to educate physicians critical for the twenty-first century. In 2009, the Evaluation of Medical Education Accreditation declared it the finest school.

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Kyungpook National University (KNU) School of Medicine:

The School of Medicine at Kyungpook National University (KNU) is one of the most distinguished in the country, with an average of 110 candidates each year.

As one of the premier medical schools in the country, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine recently played a pivotal role in the development of a new medical curriculum, which began in the early 1990s and has since become the norm for medical education in Korea.

The Kyungpook National University School of Medicine has a long and glorious history.

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College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea:

College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea was established nearly a century after the institution was founded.

The College of Medicine uses an OMNIBUS curriculum, which ensures that each student receives a customized premedical education.

Additionally, the curriculum includes two six-week competency development sessions that include consultations, diagnosis, minor medical procedures, and other treatment options.

The Catholic University of Korea’s College of Medicine educates professionals who may make a significant contribution to human society in the spirit of Catholicism.

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Frequently Asked Questions on How to Become a Medical Doctor in Korea: 

Conclusion:

As with any other country, gaining admission to a medical school in Korea is a straightforward process.

It is necessary that you can show a desire to give back and work with a diverse community to meet their particular needs.

It is more likely that you will be accepted if you spend some of your spare time volunteering, exploring culture, or learning a new language.

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