If you want to pursue medicine abroad, you may consider studying in South Korea. The country has universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutions active in medical education, clinical training, and biomedical research.
International applicants should carefully review each university’s current admissions guide before applying. Eligibility for medical programs is not uniform across South Korean universities, and applicants should not assume that an international admissions route available for other majors also includes medicine. Korean proficiency is especially important because undergraduate medical education is generally conducted primarily in Korean. For example, Yonsei University’s foreign-student admissions guide for the 2027 academic year requires applicants to its College of Medicine to hold TOPIK Level 5 or higher or to have completed Level 5 or higher at the Yonsei Korean Language Institute.
The cost of studying and living in South Korea varies by university, city, and personal circumstances. Prospective students should consult each institution’s official tuition, scholarship, and admissions pages for current information. Let’s check out these top medical schools in South Korea!
Top Medical Schools in South Korea
1. Seoul National University
Seoul National University was founded in 1946, with the College of Medicine among its original colleges. The College of Medicine provides undergraduate and graduate medical curricula and aims to develop clinicians, researchers, and medical scientists.
The undergraduate curriculum includes foundational medical education and clinical clerkships in fields such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and other specialties. SNU Medicine also operates a separate visiting-student elective program that offers eligible international medical students clinical placements lasting from two to 12 weeks. This elective program is not the same as admission to the full medical degree.
Prospective degree students should consult SNU’s current international admissions information and confirm directly whether the College of Medicine is available through the admissions category for which they qualify.
2. Yonsei University
Yonsei University was formed in 1957 through the merger of Yonhi University and Severance Medical College. Its medical tradition extends to the establishment of Gwanghyewon, later renamed Chejungwon, in 1885.
Yonsei University College of Medicine offers undergraduate and graduate medical education and is connected to the Yonsei University Health System, including Severance Hospital. Its undergraduate admissions page states that Yonsei’s Office of Admissions handles applications from both Korean and international applicants to the medical school.
International applicants must follow the requirements for their specific intake. Under Yonsei’s foreign-student admissions guide, applicants to medicine must submit TOPIK Level 5 or higher or proof that they completed Level 5 or higher at the Yonsei Korean Language Institute. Medical, dental, and pharmacy applicants also undergo an in-person interview.
3. Sungkyunkwan University
Sungkyunkwan University traces its historical roots to Sungkyunkwan, which was established in 1398. The modern university combines this long academic tradition with contemporary teaching and research.
Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine is affiliated with Samsung Medical Center. Its medical curriculum includes foundational science, integrated clinical education, and training related to situations encountered in clinical practice.
Although Sungkyunkwan University offers some university-level courses and programs in English, applicants should not interpret this as confirmation that the undergraduate medical degree is fully taught in English. International applicants must check the current admissions guide for the relevant program, intake, and language requirements.
4. Korea University
Korea University College of Medicine traces its history to the Chosun Women’s Medical Training Institute, established in 1928 by Rosetta Sherwood Hall. The institution later underwent several name changes and became part of Korea University.
The college provides an MD curriculum, clinical education, medical research, exchange opportunities, and an MD–PhD pathway. Its official site states that the college has received six-year medical-education accreditation.
5. University of Ulsan
The University of Ulsan College of Medicine was established in 1988. It works in partnership with Asan Medical Center, which serves as a major setting for medical education, clinical care, and research.
The college’s official description highlights integrated teaching and problem-based learning designed to develop students’ problem-solving abilities. Students receive medical education supported by the clinical environment and facilities of Asan Medical Center and the wider Asan medical network.
6. Pusan National University
Pusan National University was founded in 1946. Its current undergraduate academic structure includes a School of Medicine with departments of Preliminary Medicine and Medicine.
The School of Medicine is located at PNU’s Yangsan Campus. The university states that the medical school moved to the completed Yangsan Campus in 2009, where it is situated near university hospitals and other health-science units.
The former study-program URL contained an error and has been corrected. Prospective international students should confirm directly with PNU whether the medical program is open under the relevant international admissions route.
7. Kyungpook National University
Kyungpook National University School of Medicine traces its history to an earlier medical-education institution in Daegu. The university’s current English-language overview describes the school as having approximately 100 years of history and more than 9,100 alumni.
KNU also operates a general Korean Language Program for international and overseas Korean students. However, this language program should not be confused with admission to the medical degree, and its existence does not by itself establish eligibility for international medical applicants.
Applicants should consult KNU’s international admissions office and the School of Medicine for the current availability of the program, required Korean proficiency, and application procedures.
FAQS About Studying Medicine in South Korea
Can International Students Enroll in Medical Schools in Korea?
International students may be eligible to apply to some South Korean medical schools, but eligibility and admissions procedures differ by university and intake. Applicants should not assume that every university offering international undergraduate admission accepts foreign applicants into medicine. For example, Yonsei University’s foreign-student guide includes the College of Medicine and requires applicants to hold TOPIK Level 5 or higher or to have completed Level 5 or higher at the Yonsei Korean Language Institute. Applicants must check the latest official guide for each university before applying.
What is the Medical Curriculum Like in Medical Schools in Korea?
A common undergraduate medical pathway in South Korea lasts six years, generally combining two years of premedical education with four years of medical education. Chonnam National University, for example, officially describes its program as two years of premedical study followed by four years of medical study. The medical curriculum normally progresses from foundational and basic medical sciences to clinical education and clerkships, but the detailed structure varies by university.
South Korea has universities, teaching hospitals, and research facilities that provide extensive opportunities for medical education and biomedical research. However, admission to an undergraduate medical degree can be highly restricted, and international eligibility, language requirements, tuition, and scholarship availability vary considerably among institutions.
Prospective students should prioritize Korean-language preparation and review the most recent university admissions guide rather than relying on general university information. They should also confirm whether the medical program is available to their applicant category, whether an interview is required, and which language certificates are accepted.
We hope that this article on the best medical schools in South Korea was helpful. For more information, check out the Available Programs for International Students and Study in Korea.
