The Council for the Advancement of Medical Colleges (CAMC), a gathering of the presidents of 40 medical colleges nationwide, announced on the 22nd that it plans to request the government to allow fourth-year medical students to take the national medical examination additionally.
Fourth-year medical students are scheduled to graduate in August next year and will be unable to take the national examination, as they do not fall under the schedule for practical exams in September to November and the written exam in January next year. Eligibility for the national examination is granted to graduates or those scheduled to graduate within six months.
Accordingly, the CAMC plans to request the government for an additional examination in the first half of next year. If the additional examination is not conducted, the affected students will not be able to gain their medical licenses until January of the following year.
The CAMC noted that no decision has yet been made regarding the graduation timing for third-year students and that it has no choice but to leave it to individual schools.
Previously, the Korean Association of Medical Colleges and Graduate Schools (KAMC) discussed postponing the graduation timing for third-year students to either February or August 2027, but no agreement was reached.
The Ministry of Education stated that it would immediately consult if the presidents of the medical colleges submit a common proposal. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is also reviewing measures due to concerns about the prolonged gap in physician training.
Meanwhile, if the additional examination is determined, there are also concerns that controversy over preferential treatment may arise. A petition posted on the National Assembly's electronic petition system on the 17th, titled 'Oppose preferential treatment for medical students and residents,' has received approximately 50,000 agreements as of that day.