In the competitive landscape of South Korean medical school admissions, Hungarian medical institutions are gaining traction among South Korean students. This shift has ignited controversy in South Korea, with some medical groups contending that Hungarian school graduates shouldn’t qualify to take the nation’s state-run medical licensing exam.

On July 2, a Seoul court dismissed such arguments. This decision stemmed from an administrative lawsuit initiated in March 2022 by the group Doctors Who Want a Fair Society. Comprising predominantly young doctors, this group posits that Hungarian medical schools fail to meet the required criteria, accusing them of granting licenses to foreign students on the stipulation that they cannot practice in Hungary. The clause they point to states, “I hereby declare, that I have a foreign (non-Hungarian) nationality, furthermore I do not intend to pursue any healthcare activity in Hungary.”

However, Semmelweis University — one of the medical schools that South Korean students attend — states that international students can choose to practice medicine in Hungary provided that they register on the country’s National Basic Register of Healthcare Professionals.

According to Korean regulations, only graduates from overseas medical institutions approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare can sit the Korea Medical Licensing Examination to obtain a domestic medical license. Presently, four Hungarian institutions have made the cut as recognized foreign establishments.

Over the last 10 years, Hungarian medical schools have become an attractive option for Korean students seeking an alternative avenue to a domestic medical license, given the escalating competition for Korean medical school placements.

The majority of Koreans who earned a domestic medical license after graduating from foreign institutions in the past five years did so after studying in Hungarian medical schools, according to recent data from Shin Hyun-young, a lawmaker from the main opposition Democratic Party.

The challenge of securing a spot in a Korean medical school continues to intensify, driven by the allure of high status and earning potential associated with being a doctor in Korea. South Korean doctors enjoy top-tier compensation coupled with significant job security among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development member nations.

This fervor to join the medical profession in South Korea has surged to such an extent that private tutoring classes are sprouting, aiming to groom elementary students for the suneung – South Korea’s college entrance examination — and bolster their chances of gaining admission into esteemed medical programs.

RELAXED ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In 2020, data indicated that to secure a spot in South Korea’s premier medical schools, students must score at least 292 out of a possible 300 points on their suneung exam, which equates to 90 or above in each subject.

However, the suneung, which primarily employs a relative evaluation system, poses unpredictable outcomes. Even with high scores, students aren’t guaranteed admission due to intense competition for the limited slots medical schools offer.

Against this backdrop of fierce competition and stringent admission criteria, Hungarian medical schools have become an appealing option for many Korean students, offering a more accessible entrance process.

The entrance exam for Hungarian medical institutions welcomes any applicant with a high school diploma and an English proficiency certificate for non-native speakers. Each medical school oversees its exam process, utilizing an absolute evaluation system. Typically, aspirants face a multiple-choice test and a personal interview that delves into medical biology, medical chemistry, general English and biomedical English.

“In South Korea, the suneung exam stands as the only gateway for students. Only the nation’s top performers can even consider entering domestic medical schools,” Kim Jae-sung, the head of SM Premed Center, an institute that prepares Korean students for Hungarian medical schools, told Korea Pro.

“However, Hungarian schools have more lenient standards. Even students who fall short of scoring the best scores on the suneung can qualify with adequate preparation at our center.”

Applicants aren’t required to demonstrate proficiency in the Hungarian language, simplifying the process further.

This more relaxed admission criterion in Hungary has led to a surge in specialized education agencies in Gangnam, South Korea’s upscale district. These agencies offer pre-med courses tailored for admissions into Hungarian medical institutions.

However, this trend has sparked concerns domestically. Many local doctors and students argue that the wealthy are capitalizing on Hungary’s flexible admission system, questioning the equity of the path some take to medical school.

An illustration of a stethoscope next to a stack of books | Image: Korea Pro

ISSUE OF FAIRNESS

The medical community in South Korea has shifted its focus to the issue of fairness, particularly in the wake of an admissions scandal surrounding the former justice minister, Cho Kuk.

Cho’s daughter, Cho Min, secured a place at a Busan medical school using falsified credentials facilitated by her professor, mother and academic connections. This scandal deeply upset many in the medical field, especially since a significant number had retaken the suneung multiple times to secure medical school admissions.

Nearly 75% of students admitted to medical schools over the past four years had taken the entrance exam more than once, according to data from Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu.

Given this backdrop, many domestic students and doctors perceive overseas education as an unfair advantage, raising concerns over the equity of granting the same medical licenses to overseas graduates as those obtained from domestic institutions.

“Most graduates from Hungary tend to be children of doctors. For parents looking to pass on their practices to their children, Hungary becomes a backup plan for securing their children’s medical licenses if they fail to enter domestic schools,” Park Ji-yong, the head of the medical group behind last year’s lawsuit, told Korea Pro.

Challenging the court’s July decision, Park and his group organized a rally on Aug. 5, advocating for an end to the perceived unfair occupation dominance by affluent families and established doctors.

Adding to the debate are certain aspects of Hungarian medical education. Park points out that Hungarian medical schools lack official admission quotas and often run separate English-taught classes for international students.

“For effective medical training, students must engage in clear communication with patients. In a country like Hungary, where English isn’t the primary language, international students face hurdles in obtaining quality clinical training due to language barriers,” Park asserted.

UNFAIR STIGMATIZATION?

The recent lawsuit and local media coverage have cast a shadow on Hungarian medical degrees, amplifying doubts about their quality.

For instance, the medical community in South Korea has coined a derogatory term, “Hungzmong,” to describe those with qualifications from Hungary, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. This branding has led many doctors from these countries to omit their foreign education from their resumes.

While researching this piece, attempts to interview Korean students currently studying medicine in Hungary were met with resistance. Citing concerns from the recent lawsuit and potential harm to their future careers, these students declined interviews with Korea Pro.

“Student interest in our services saw a sharp decline after the lawsuit by the medical group,” Kim from SM Premed Center said.

However, there’s a debate around this stigma. Some argue that, while Hungarian schools might have more accessible admissions, their rigorous graduation requirements uphold the standard of quality education.

Hungarian medical school programs, like those in Korea, span six years. However, Hungarian medical schools do not distinguish between pre-clinical and clinical courses, unlike Korean medical schools. Students in Hungarian medical schools dive deep into subjects like anatomy and pathology from the outset, facing both written and oral examinations. Consequently, many Korean students find themselves retaking exams and delaying graduation.

While education agencies promoting Hungarian medical education often highlight the high acceptance rates, they seldom mention the tougher graduation rates. Yet, the rigorous training seems to prepare Hungarian-educated graduates effectively for South Korea’s state licensing exam.

Between 2001 and 2023, graduates from Hungarian medical schools achieved an impressive 82.35% pass rate on the Korea Medical Licensing Examination, dwarfing the 17.92% rate from the Philippines — a formerly popular choice for overseas medical education.

Recent positive media portrayals have contributed to a resurgence in the popularity of overseas education agencies. These agencies, which faced a drop in clients following last year’s lawsuit, now report a rebound in interest.

Kim from SM Premed Center noted that his enterprise has been thriving since the court’s decision to dismiss the medical group’s claims.

“Are the suneung and enrollment in domestic medical schools the only legitimate pathway to a medical license?” asked Kim.

“Many of our clients don’t have doctors for parents. For those students committed to a medical career, Hungary offers them a chance — a chance they might not get in Korea, even with top grades.”

Edited by John Lee