From Academic to Medical School Fever: Korea's Evolving Education Obsession

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Recent media reports have once again highlighted the trend of 'medical school abroad' in South Korea. Graduates from overseas medical schools recognized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, who have obtained a medical license in the respective countries, can take the domestic medical licensing exam. Currently, 159 universities from 38 countries qualify for this. For instance, approximately 600 Korean students are enrolled in Hungarian medical schools. Many of these students missed out on domestic medical school admissions by a small margin or were ranked slightly lower in their national exams.

Searches for 'overseas medical schools' or 'pharmacy studies abroad' easily lead to businesses providing relevant services and information on major web portals. My frequent searches on overseas studies and foreign universities have trained various social media algorithms to show me advertisements, debunking myths that average students can easily get into Japanese pharmacy schools or that European medical schools have high acceptance rates. It's challenging to generalize the motives and behavior patterns of those choosing to study medicine abroad. For them, it's a strategic choice based on their circumstances and available resources.


The nationwide craze for medical education seems to be intensifying. Stories circulate of elementary school students being pushed into medical preparatory classes, with their backpacks filled to the brim with advanced textbooks on subjects like university-level math, biology, and chemistry. Moreover, in some non-metropolitan areas, there are demands for the establishment of such preparatory classes. This fervor goes beyond just being a trend—it's almost manic.


The rising trend of students from science and gifted schools dropping out to prepare for medical school is alarming. Regardless of whether they are top talents in science or international math Olympiad gold medalists, they seem to think that their accomplishments pale in comparison to becoming a medical student. To get into a prestigious college, they face intense competition and changing admission policies depending on the political regime. And even after enrolling, news of adjustments to medical school quotas or removal of specific challenging exam topics can sway many students from other fields to reconsider medical studies. This is the immense influence and allure of medical schools in Korea.


Debates on whether prospective doctors or pharmacists should choose domestic or foreign universities miss the essence of the issue. The skewed perception of foreign medical graduates could further divide our society. What's truly vital isn't where these future professionals obtain their qualifications but whether they've undergone a rigorous quality assurance process and can provide excellent healthcare services internationally. More fundamentally, we need to analyze why our society pushes young students into these preparatory pathways from such an early age, and devise strategies and policies to address this distorted phenomenon.


An anecdote shared by a senior colleague, a teacher at an elite high school in Daegu for almost 15 years, emphasized that 'students don't really need career or university counseling' at his school. This might sound shocking, but the reasons are clear: First, there's a growing educational polarization. Top students are focused on grades while the lower-ranking ones seem indifferent to academia. Second, almost 99% of top students aim for medical schools. Meanwhile, many lower-ranking students don't even consider university as part of their life trajectory. Third, private education institutions already provide advanced studies and counseling, leaving little for school counselors to add.


With top-tier students solely focusing on medical school and others deeming university education unnecessary, it's challenging for teachers, regardless of their passion, to guide students effectively. This isn't a universal trend, and not all students necessarily need university counseling. However, the shift in high school counseling trends since medical and pharmacy fields have started overshadowing the prestige of the traditional top-tier universities is undeniable.


Professor Kang Chang-dong of Hankyung National University highlighted South Korea's educational fervor and societal aspirations related to social status in his 2008 paper. In 2019, he further pointed out the prevalence of abnormal behaviors driven by severe damages caused by academic competition. On top of this, he discussed the coexistence of academic sadism and masochism. Borrowing his words, it might be that our society has moved beyond the era of "academic phallus" and entered the age of the "medical school phallus." 


As we embrace the expanding trend of pursuing medical education abroad, it's crucial to ponder what roles teachers in the field can and should play. We need to consider how the state and educational systems can support these educators in guiding students. It's high time our society takes a more profound critical reflection for the future of education.


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* Disclaimer

This content is an edited version of the article originally published in Korean through 'University Choice 12', a monthly magazine for college counselors in South Korea. Click the link (http://naver.me/GYcoaCzu) to download the PDF. 


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