Current Status and Improvement Strategies for the Resident Training System in South Korea:Focusing on Patient Safety and Sustainable Healthcare
10.21215/kjfp.2026.16.1.48
- Author:
Seung-Won OH
;
HaDa RYUOK
;
Ilyoung OH
;
Jae-Heon KANG
;
Eun Jin HA
;
Hee Gyung KANG
;
Serng Bai PAK
;
Junghee AHN
;
Mihwa YOO
;
Eunyoung CHO
;
Juhwan OH
- Publication Type:Review Article
- From:
Korean Journal of Family Practice
2026;16(1):48-58
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The South Korean resident training system is currently at a critical turning point, facing structural crises characterized by excessive labor-intensive environments and deteriorating quality of education. Since the medical standoff in 2024, the limitations of relying on junior doctors’ labor for hospital operations have become increasingly apparent. This review examines the current status and problems of the resident training system, including long working hours exceeding Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards, lack of systematic competency-based education, and worsening regional and essential medical imbalances. By analyzing international cases from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia, this article proposes four core strategies for reform: (1) establishing a sustainable working and educational environment through the expansion of hospitalist systems and legalizing physician assistant roles; (2) innovating the curriculum and evaluation systems based on entrustable professional activities and milestones; (3) implementing a network-based training model to bridge the gap between metropolitan and regional healthcare; and (4) securing stable financial support and strengthening governance through the establishment of an independent evaluation body (e.g., K-ACGME). Ultimately, reforming the training system is essential not only for the rights and professional growth of residents but also for ensuring patient safety and the long-term sustainability of the national healthcare system.
