What a Korean "board-certified dermatologist" is, and how to check
A specialist (전문의) is a board-certified physician recognised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Whether a clinic may use "dermatology" in its name, and whether your doctor is a dermatology specialist, can be checked on public sites.
The short answer
In Korea a "specialist" (전문의) is a physician certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare under Article 77 of the Medical Service Act after medical school, internship, a four-year residency in the specialty, and a board examination. Not every doctor working at a skin clinic is a dermatology specialist, and that is legal. What you need to know is which specialty, if any, the doctor treating you holds.
The word "dermatology" in the clinic name
Under Article 42 of the Medical Service Act, only a specialist may put the specialty in the institution's name.
| Clinic name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ○○ Dermatology Clinic (○○피부과의원) | The founder is a board-certified dermatologist |
| ○○ Clinic (○○의원), departments include dermatology | The founder may be a specialist in another field, or a general practitioner; dermatology is a registered department |
| ○○ Clinic (○○클리닉) | A trade name; check which official form the registration uses |
The second type is common among clinics doing injectables and energy-based anti-aging treatments. Their founders are often specialists in family medicine, anesthesiology and pain medicine, or other fields.
How to check
- Ask the clinic for a photo of the specialist certificate. It shows a number, the name, the specialty, the date of issue, and the Minister's seal. If the photo you receive does not show the specialty line, ask for the full document.
- Search the clinic's Korean name on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (심평원) site. The listing shows the clinic's departments and the number of specialists in each.
- On the clinic's website, look for "피부과 전문의" in the doctor's profile. "원장" (director) alone is a job title, not a qualification.
Common misunderstandings
- The red square "dermatology specialist" logo is issued by a professional association to its members. It is not a legal document.
- "Director" and "chief director" are positions. A clinic may have several directors.
- A university name or a hospital residency is education and experience, not board certification.
A doctor who is not a dermatology specialist may still perform skin treatments. The point is informed choice: know who treats you, in what specialty, and with how much experience, and have it written into your consultation record.