Medical student who refused the national exam says, "I will take the written test next year"

3,196 Applicants Registered for January Written Exam Next Year
Medical Community: "Medical Students Who Were Silent Have Expressed Their Willingness to Take the National Medical Exam"

On the 8th of last month, the practical exam day for the 85th Medical Licensing Examination, officials were moving at the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] A significant number of fourth-year medical students nationwide have registered to take the written exam of the medical licensing examination scheduled for early next year. Amid controversy last month when 86% of candidates refused to take the practical exam, the fact that most candidates plan to take the upcoming written exam has led some in the medical community to interpret this as medical students expressing their intention to take the medical licensing exam.

According to the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute on the 14th, 3,196 candidates submitted applications for the 85th medical licensing written exam, which closed yesterday. This number exceeds the 3,172 candidates eligible for the practical exam of the same session, which closed earlier last month.

The medical licensing exam consists of both practical and written tests, and candidates must pass both to obtain a medical license. If a candidate passes only one of the two exams, they are exempted from retaking that exam in the next session. The written exam will be held on January 7-8 next year. Although individual information about the 3,196 candidates who applied for the written exam has not been disclosed, most appear to be students about to graduate from medical school. The increase in applicants compared to the practical exam last month is presumed to be due to some candidates who failed the written exam earlier this year, as well as some foreign medical graduates or licensed doctors applying.

On the 8th, Kim Young-hoon, Director of Korea University Medical Center, and others requested Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, to provide medical students with an opportunity to retake the national medical licensing examination during a meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, regarding the issue of medical students not taking the national exam. At the meeting, attendees including Kim Young-hoon, Director of Korea University Medical Center, Kim Yeon-soo, Director of Seoul National University Hospital, Yoon Dong-seop, Director of Yonsei University Medical Center, and Kim Young-mo, Director of Inha University Medical Center, issued an apology statement concerning the issue of medical students not taking the national exam amid the COVID-19 crisis. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

For the September Practical Exam Registration, Only 436 Out of 3,172 Registered
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The controversy over the medical licensing exam arose when most medical students showed a refusal to take the exam amid conflicts between the government and the medical community over healthcare policies. Even after the government, ruling party, and medical community reached a consensus, most medical students continued to express their intention to cancel the exam, resulting in only about 14% of candidates?436 people?taking the exam. Considering the pass rate and other factors, this caused a disruption in the supply of approximately 2,500 doctors, leading the medical community to argue that the government should not stick to its principles but rather allow medical students to retake the exam.

Some in the medical community emphasize that the scale of candidates registering for the written exam this time indicates that most medical students who previously expressed refusal have effectively withdrawn their refusal and intend to take the exam again. Until now, medical students had not shown any particular intention regarding retaking the exam, so the fact that they submitted applications itself shows an individual willingness to take the exam.

Han Hee-cheol, Director of the Korea Association of Medical Colleges and Medical Schools, said, "This medical licensing exam is an important healthcare policy issue essential for securing medical personnel to protect public health from the COVID-19 crisis. Since medical students have actively expressed their individual intention to take the exam, I hope a progressive solution to the licensing exam issue will be sought."

Earlier this month, the National Association of Medical School Professors, the chairpersons of the 25 district medical associations in Seoul, deans and directors of medical schools nationwide, and heads of major university medical centers and hospitals demanded that medical students who could not take this year’s practical exam be given a chance to retake it, and they visited the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to request a resolution. The government maintains its position that retaking is not possible, citing fairness with other national exams and public opinion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.