Korea: increase in foreign medical graduates passing exam
South Korea saw a threefold increase in foreign-trained doctors successfully passing South Korea’s preliminary medical licensing exam—a prerequisite for taking the national medical licensing test. In the latest cycle, around half of foreign medical graduates cleared this initial hurdle, a notable increase compared to prior years. To qualify, candidates must hold a medical degree from an institution approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, demonstrate proficiency in Korean, and pass both the preliminary exam and the final national licensing exam. Between 2005 and 2023, approximately one‑third of international medical graduates who took the exams obtained a Korean medical license, with the most common countries of origin being the United Kingdom, Paraguay, and Hungary. The increasing pass rate reflects a growing presence of foreign-educated physicians entering South Korea’s healthcare system.