{"id":2202162,"date":"2023-09-06T17:00:57","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T08:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202162"},"modified":"2023-11-20T17:26:01","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T08:26:01","slug":"hungarian-medical-school-admissions-ignite-a-debate-on-fairness-in-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/09\/hungarian-medical-school-admissions-ignite-a-debate-on-fairness-in-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Hungarian medical school admissions ignite a debate on fairness in South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s state-run medical licensing exam.<\/span><\/p>\n On July 2, a Seoul court <\/span>dismissed<\/span><\/a> such arguments. This decision stemmed from an administrative lawsuit initiated in March 2022 by the group <\/span>Doctors Who Want a Fair Society<\/span><\/a>. Comprising predominantly young doctors, this group posits that Hungarian medical schools <\/span>fail to meet<\/span><\/a> the required criteria, accusing them of granting licenses to foreign students on the stipulation that they cannot practice in Hungary. The <\/span>clause<\/span><\/a> they point to states, \u201cI hereby declare, that I have a foreign (non-Hungarian) nationality, furthermore I do not intend to pursue any healthcare activity in Hungary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n However, Semmelweis University \u2014 one of the medical schools that South Korean students attend \u2014 <\/span>states<\/span><\/a> that international students can choose to practice medicine in Hungary provided that they register on the country\u2019s National Basic Register of Healthcare Professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n 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, <\/span>four<\/span><\/a> Hungarian institutions have made the cut as recognized foreign establishments.<\/span><\/p>\n Over the last 10 years, Hungarian medical schools have become an <\/span>attractive option<\/span><\/a> for Korean students seeking an alternative avenue to a domestic medical license, given the escalating competition for Korean medical school placements.<\/span><\/p>\n 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 <\/span>data<\/span><\/a> from Shin Hyun-young, a lawmaker from the main opposition Democratic Party.<\/span><\/p>\n 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 <\/span>top-tier compensation<\/span><\/a> coupled with significant job security among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development member nations.<\/span><\/p>\n 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 <\/span>elementary students<\/span><\/a> for the suneung \u2013 South Korea\u2019s college entrance examination \u2014 and bolster their chances of gaining admission into esteemed medical programs.<\/span><\/p>\n RELAXED ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS<\/b><\/p>\n In 2020, data <\/span>indicated<\/span><\/a> that to secure a spot in South Korea\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n However, the suneung, which primarily employs a relative evaluation system, poses unpredictable outcomes. Even with high scores, students aren\u2019t guaranteed admission due to intense competition for the limited slots medical schools offer.<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n The entrance exam for Hungarian medical institutions welcomes any applicant with a <\/span>high school diploma<\/span><\/a> and an English proficiency certificate for non-native speakers. Each medical school oversees its exam process, utilizing an absolute evaluation system. Typically, aspirants <\/span>face<\/span><\/a> a multiple-choice test and a personal interview that delves into medical biology, medical chemistry, general English and biomedical English.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn South Korea, the suneung exam stands as the only gateway for students. Only the nation\u2019s top performers can even consider entering domestic medical schools,\u201d Kim Jae-sung, the head of SM Premed Center, an institute that prepares Korean students for Hungarian medical schools, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHowever, 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Applicants aren\u2019t required to demonstrate proficiency in the Hungarian language, simplifying the process further.<\/span><\/p>\n This more relaxed admission criterion in Hungary has led to a <\/span>surge<\/span><\/a> in specialized education agencies in Gangnam, South Korea\u2019s upscale district. These agencies offer pre-med courses tailored for admissions into Hungarian medical institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n However, this trend has sparked concerns domestically. Many local doctors and students argue that the wealthy are capitalizing on Hungary\u2019s flexible admission system, questioning the equity of the path some take to medical school.<\/span><\/p>\n