Hàn Quốc’s Healthcare Crisis: Surge in Applications to Medical Schools

adminMarch 7, 2024

In the past two weeks, the medical field in South Korea has experienced a major upheaval. Nearly 10,000 resident doctors have collectively gone on strike to protest against the government’s new plan. This protest has not only involved resident doctors but also students and professors in medical schools.

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Government’s Inflexibility

Facing intense resistance from the medical community, the South Korean government remains resolute in its plan to increase medical school admissions by an additional 2,000 to 3,000 students across 40 universities by 2025.

With the chance to become a highly esteemed doctor in South Korea, many individuals from different professions are flocking to private academies and centers to prepare for medical school entrance exams.

Teachers, Journalists, and Office Workers Seeking Opportunities

To meet the increasing demand for medical school preparation, private academies have started offering related courses. Korea Times reports that once the enrollment quota for medical students is completed, individuals from various disciplines and age groups will rush to enroll in these preparatory classes.

Mega Study, one of the largest private academies in South Korea, has organized an informational session for its specially designed medical school preparatory class, set to commence on March 18.

According to an academy official, around 15 office workers from various professions have already attended the program introduction session. To accommodate the growing demand, the academy has decided to offer evening classes for office employees to participate after work.

Nam Yoon-geon, the manager of Mega Study, said, “Individuals from various fields, including teachers, financial experts, and even journalists, have shown interest in preparing for medical school entrance exams.” According to Yoon-geon, the majority of those interested in the preparatory course are in their late 20s to mid-30s.

Keeping Up with the Trend

Another prominent private academy, Etoos, has launched a marketing campaign on its website to promote medical school preparatory courses. The advertisement emphasizes the increase in medical school admissions by over 2,000 students and highlights the ease of entering medical school, encouraging individuals to give it a try.

Similarly, Jongro Academy, among others, hosted an online information session focusing on medical school entrance exam preparation just one day after the government’s announcement. Approximately 4,000 people participated in the online event, and the video of the information session has garnered over 30,000 views on various platforms.

Lim Seong-ho, the director of Jongro Academy, shared that since the government’s announcement, the number of working professionals seeking guidance for medical school preparation has doubled or even tripled compared to normal times. He said, “Current working individuals often inquire about specific preparations for medical school and participate in consultations earnestly.”

Seong-ho also shared the story of a 38-year-old man who quit his journalism job after over a decade to prepare for medical school.

Increasing Trend Expected to Continue

Statistics show that the average age of those preparing for medical school is increasing, with even second or third-year university students and office workers having the opportunity to enter medical school. The proportion of individuals aged 25 and above among medical students has risen from 0.7% to 3% in the past year.