Medical Licensing Practical Exam Ends Today... 86% of Medical Students Absent

Published 10 Nov.2020 11:18(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The practical exam of the medical licensing examination, which 86% of the total eligible medical students did not take, will end on the 10th.

According to the medical community, out of 3,172 eligible candidates, only 446 applied for this practical exam held for about two months starting from September 8. However, with 10 no-shows and 12 additional cancellations, the actual number of examinees was even lower.

With the conclusion of the national practical exam on this day, the majority of medical students will not be able to take the exam within this year. As a result, about 2,700 new doctors will not be produced next year, which may lead to shortages of intern doctors, public health doctors (Gongbo-ui), and military medical officers.

Medical students have refused to take the medical licensing exam in protest against the government's health care policies such as expanding medical school quotas and establishing public medical schools. Although the government postponed the practical exam schedule by one week and extended the reapplication deadline twice, medical students continued to refuse to register for the exam even after the medical-government agreement to reconsider these policies from scratch.

The medical community has argued that the government should open the way for retaking the licensing exam to prevent a medical crisis. However, there seems to be no way for them to take the practical exam within this year.

An official from the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute (KHPLEI) said, "It is tight to finish within this year," adding, "If they were to take the exam, we hoped it would be from the day after the existing exam ends, on the 11th of this month, but even if we announce it the day after tomorrow, it will be difficult to hold it within this year."