On the morning of Dec. 9, a 'Japanese Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Schools Study Abroad Expo' took place at a hotel in Gangnam, Seoul. Representatives from six Japanese private medical schools and one dental and veterinary school each attended to provide admissions counseling. Some professors proudly announced that out of 11 Korean graduates, six successfully passed Korea's Pharmacy Board Exam. They further emphasized that 35 Korean exchange students had graduated, with 21 successfully passing Japan's Pharmacy Board Exam.
As competition for admission to medical and pharmacy schools in Korea intensifies, more students are exploring options abroad. This has led to a trend where students graduate from pharmacy schools in countries like the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, and then return to Korea to take the Pharmacy Board Exam. Students graduating from foreign universities recognized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare can take the domestic Pharmacy Board Exam after meeting specific conditions.
Students with College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scores in the 2nd to 3rd tier, who find it difficult to secure admission to domestic pharmacy schools, are particularly seeking guidance. As of the 2024 academic year, the admission capacity for domestic pharmacy schools is 1,743, which is less than the 3,058 slots available in medical schools. Starting this academic year, there will no longer be a domestic graduate school for pharmacy, meaning students will either have to retake exams or transfer.
According to the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute, a total of 453 individuals who graduated from foreign pharmacy schools have passed the domestic Pharmacy Board Exam between 2014 and 2023. The number has steadily increased from four in 2010 to 54 in 2015 and 103 in 2020.
This shows that many students still choose this route despite the new requirement for overseas pharmacy graduates to take a 'preliminary exam' before attempting the Pharmacy Board Exam in Korea starting in 2021. In 2022, 19 students passed the board exam through this route, which increased to 35 the following year.
The recruitment of Korean students by foreign pharmacy schools is also gaining momentum. Japanese pharmacy schools from various regions, including Hokkaido, Fukushima, Nagasaki, Chiba, and Ishikawa, actively participated in the recent 'Study Abroad Expo.' These regions in Japan are known to be facing a population decline crisis within the country.
During the expo, a professor from a Japanese pharmacy school expressed concerns about low birth rates and population decline, making it challenging for regional private universities to attract students. The professor said, "While pharmacy schools were popular in the past, regional universities are now actively recruiting foreign exchange students, given the decrease in the number of local students willing to pay tuition." Currently, Japanese pharmacy schools have a capacity of over 12,000, which is seven times higher than that of Korea (1,743).
A representative from a Korean study abroad agency commented, "Many foreign universities have a shortage of students, while there is intense competition for admission to medical and pharmacy schools in Korea." They added, "Thus, the interest in pursuing medical and pharmacy education overseas is likely to continue in the foreseeable future."