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By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
Kim, a 31-year-old resident physician at a Seoul hospital, has had to give up his dream for now ― not the dream of becoming a specialist, but to pass the test that would license him to practice in the United States.
He recently flunked a crucial interview needed to complete the three-step U.S. licensing examination. It was already his second attempt.
"It's always my English that trips me up," said Kim, who wants to practice in the U.S., where doctors work shorter hours with faster exposure to up-to-date medical technology.
Even top Korean hospitals nowadays prefer physicians equipped with a U.S. license, so that only gives him more reason to pass the test, he added.
Kim isn't the only one eager to earn the credentials, as the number of Korean doctors taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is heading up every year, according to the Korean-American Educational Commission.
More than 800 medical professionals applied for the test last year, up from 700 in 2008 and 550 in 2005.
Hagwon, or cram schools, in Seoul specializing in the USMLE say new student signups go up about 30 percent annually.
"Some people actually want to move to the U.S. because the quality of life as a doctor is better there," said Jang Jun-hee, the head of GMES, a USMLE prep school.
There are currently more than 200 doctors who are Korean nationals practicing in Manhattan and Los Angeles, according to the areas' Korean associations.
Industry experts say well-known doctors in Korea see up to 100 patients per day, while their counterparts in the U.S. meet with just 20 at most. Meanwhile, the annual salaries in both countries are said to be comparable.
Jang says even physicians who aren't interested in relocation want the license, simply to ramp up their competitiveness.
According to the Korean Medical Association, there were 196 doctors for every 100,000 people in 2008, a three-fold jump compared to 1980.
"Doctors need to boost their edge with whatever they can," he said.
The Korean government's possible opening of the medical services market is also forcing young professionals to prepare for uncertainties in the future.
But despite reasons for taking the exam, the passing rate reportedly stands at 7 percent due to the high bar for language and the clinical knowledge review.
"It only makes sense that the language test is tough because once a doctor practices in the U.S., he or she will have to communicate with patients proficiently," said Cha Min-young of the Southern California Korean Medical Association.
jhan@koreatimes.co.kr
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