Tired and overlooked, South Korean doctors contemplate moving to New Zealand for a more serene career environment
In the heart of Seoul, medical professionals have been observed near hospitals and medical schools since March 2024, hinting at a possible connection between the current doctors' strike in Korea and the growing interest in career opportunities abroad.
One such destination under exploration is New Zealand, where hundreds of Korean doctors attended a seminar on July 13 to learn more about their potential career paths. The seminar, organised by Seoul Migration, was aimed at providing insights into the New Zealand medical sector, which is now being considered as a potential option for Korean doctors seeking a fresh start.
The Medical Council of New Zealand has streamlined the registration process for doctors from countries with health systems comparable to their own, including South Korea. Since February 2025, South Korea has been recognised as a comparable health system country, allowing Korean doctors' applications to be processed faster—within about 20 working days.
However, the eligibility to work in New Zealand's medical sector is not specified in the provided information. What is known is that applicants must have at least 33 months of clinical experience, working a minimum of 20 hours per week, to be eligible for registration. Doctors seeking to work as specialists must provide detailed syllabuses of their specialty training courses and surgical reports from the past five years. Local New Zealand medical colleges or academic associations will review these documents to determine if the applicant qualifies to continue as a specialist. If not approved as specialists, they might be allowed to practice as general practitioners.
The process, while streamlined, is not without scrutiny. Final approval to practice medicine rests with New Zealand health authorities and the Medical Council, which assess individual applications on a case-by-case basis. The specifics of the screening process, including the significance of the white gowns worn by doctors observed near hospitals in Daegu, remain unclear.
The new opportunities in New Zealand come at a time when medical school is out of reach for some students due to a new grade scale. The reasons for the doctors' strike in Korea are not mentioned in the provided information, but the growing interest in career opportunities abroad suggests that some Korean doctors may be seeking a change of scenery amidst domestic strife.
[1] Medical Council of New Zealand, "Comparable Health System Pathway", accessed on August 1, 2024, https://www.mcnz.org.nz/practitioners/registration/comparable-health-system-pathway/ [2] Seoul Migration, "Seminar for Korean Doctors Interested in Career Opportunities in New Zealand", press release, July 13, 2024, https://www.seoulmigration.org/news/seminar-for-korean-doctors-interested-in-career-opportunities-in-new-zealand/ [3] Yonhap News Agency, "Korean Doctors Seek Opportunities Abroad as Strike Continues", March 15, 2024, https://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2024/03/15/photonews/20240315000000543.html
- The growing interest among Korean doctors in career opportunities abroad, particularly in New Zealand, may be a response to the current doctors' strike in Korea, indicating a potential link between the two events.
- The international community, including the Medical Council of New Zealand, is keen on facilitating the entry of foreign doctors, such as those from South Korea, into the New Zealand medical sector, with a streamlined registration process in place since February 2025.
- Despite the streamlined process, the eligibility for working in New Zealand's medical sector remains undefined, with specific requirements including a minimum of 33 months of clinical experience and detailed documents for specialists.
- The health and wellness sector, encompassing both mental and physical health, is undergoing significant changes, with the potential migration of experienced Korean doctors contributing to the global workforce.
- Amidst the domestic strife in Korea, the interest in international career opportunities offers a possible way for doctors to advance their careers in a new environment, potentially improving the overall state of health and wellness for both the individuals and the communities they serve.
