Physicians
226
New registrations in 2025 · −2,826 vs. previous year
Low 226 (2025) · High 3,886 (2008)
New healthcare licenses by profession
Annual number of newly registered licenses and qualifications in Korea for 19 professions, including physicians, dentists, Korean medicine doctors, nurses and pharmacists.
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, new registrations of healthcare licenses (as of 2025-12-31) · Because the professions differ greatly in size, each chart has its own vertical scale. Every chart starts at zero.
Key professions
Dentists
720
New registrations in 2025 · −7 vs. previous year
Low 720 (2025) · High 898 (2004)
Korean Medicine Doctors
690
New registrations in 2025 · −80 vs. previous year
Low 690 (2025) · High 1,007 (2003)
Nurses
23,677
New registrations in 2025 · +227 vs. previous year
Low 10,495 (2006) · High 23,677 (2025)
Pharmacists
2,074
New registrations in 2025 · +197 vs. previous year
Low 118 (2014) · High 2,074 (2025)
Other professions
Midwives
11
New registrations in 2025 · ±0 vs. previous year
Low 7 (2023) · High 71 (2003)
Clinical Laboratory Technologists
2,466
New registrations in 2025 · −61 vs. previous year
Low 1,179 (2010) · High 3,035 (2020)
Radiological Technologists
2,176
New registrations in 2025 · +79 vs. previous year
Low 1,177 (2003) · High 2,318 (2022)
Physical Therapists
3,917
New registrations in 2025 · −298 vs. previous year
Low 1,913 (2003) · High 4,673 (2022)
Occupational Therapists
1,540
New registrations in 2025 · −340 vs. previous year
Low 235 (2003) · High 1,929 (2018)
Dental Technicians
827
New registrations in 2025 · +87 vs. previous year
Low 740 (2024) · High 1,458 (2008)
Dental Hygienists
4,164
New registrations in 2025 · −622 vs. previous year
Low 2,018 (2003) · High 5,081 (2014)
Health Information Managers
1,296
New registrations in 2025 · −205 vs. previous year
Low 498 (2003) · High 2,062 (2020)
Opticians
1,009
New registrations in 2025 · +19 vs. previous year
Low 990 (2024) · High 1,699 (2010)
Herbal Pharmacists
118
New registrations in 2025 · −10 vs. previous year
Low 100 (2017) · High 157 (2005)
Paramedics (Level 1)
1,262
New registrations in 2025 · −67 vs. previous year
Low 109 (2004) · High 1,573 (2019)
EMTs (Level 2)
899
New registrations in 2025 · −93 vs. previous year
Low 409 (2004) · High 2,037 (2018)
Dietitians
3,307
New registrations in 2025 · −424 vs. previous year
Low 3,307 (2025) · High 5,396 (2010)
Nursing Assistants
28,376
New registrations in 2025 · −1,283 vs. previous year
Low 16,908 (2004) · High 37,410 (2014)
Full table
| Year | Physicians | Dentists | Korean Medicine Doctors | Nurses | Midwives | Clinical Laboratory Technologists | Radiological Technologists | Physical Therapists | Occupational Therapists | Dental Technicians | Dental Hygienists | Health Information Managers | Opticians | Pharmacists | Herbal Pharmacists | Paramedics (Level 1) | EMTs (Level 2) | Dietitians | Nursing Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 226 | 720 | 690 | 23,677 | 11 | 2,466 | 2,176 | 3,917 | 1,540 | 827 | 4,164 | 1,296 | 1,009 | 2,074 | 118 | 1,262 | 899 | 3,307 | 28,376 |
| 2024 | 3,052 | 727 | 770 | 23,450 | 11 | 2,527 | 2,097 | 4,215 | 1,880 | 740 | 4,786 | 1,501 | 990 | 1,877 | 128 | 1,329 | 992 | 3,731 | 29,659 |
| 2023 | 3,153 | 740 | 810 | 23,303 | 7 | 2,517 | 1,957 | 4,629 | 1,578 | 820 | 4,517 | 1,514 | 1,133 | 1,887 | 134 | 1,448 | 978 | 3,415 | 29,139 |
| 2022 | 3,159 | 727 | 731 | 23,310 | 11 | 2,630 | 2,318 | 4,673 | 1,900 | 794 | 4,834 | 1,205 | 1,259 | 1,843 | 123 | 1,360 | 574 | 4,100 | 34,045 |
| 2021 | 3,066 | 760 | 744 | 21,748 | 9 | 2,394 | 1,886 | 4,269 | 1,908 | 941 | 4,345 | 1,409 | 1,257 | 1,750 | 111 | 1,524 | 930 | 4,331 | 36,092 |
| 2020 | 2,996 | 780 | 744 | 21,568 | 12 | 3,035 | 2,007 | 4,325 | 1,880 | 754 | 4,636 | 2,062 | 1,197 | 1,929 | 133 | 1,500 | 1,146 | 3,324 | 36,117 |
| 2019 | 3,172 | 789 | 721 | 20,602 | 15 | 1,890 | 2,025 | 4,459 | 1,772 | 955 | 4,618 | 927 | 1,471 | 1,896 | 102 | 1,573 | 1,354 | 4,233 | 33,715 |
| 2018 | 3,201 | 746 | 796 | 19,898 | 20 | 2,483 | 1,954 | 4,450 | 1,929 | 804 | 4,663 | 774 | 1,213 | 1,840 | 146 | 1,541 | 2,037 | 4,103 | 35,016 |
| 2017 | 3,097 | 747 | 775 | 19,423 | 19 | 2,053 | 2,022 | 3,822 | 1,592 | 817 | 4,535 | 1,162 | 1,323 | 1,873 | 100 | 1,396 | 1,863 | 4,382 | 33,944 |
| 2016 | 3,103 | 765 | 757 | 17,488 | 16 | 2,231 | 2,209 | 3,842 | 1,761 | 948 | 4,299 | 1,083 | 1,249 | 1,798 | 118 | 1,305 | 1,108 | 3,915 | 37,026 |
| 2015 | 3,127 | 724 | 771 | 15,689 | 18 | 2,130 | 2,268 | 3,579 | 1,331 | 975 | 4,652 | 1,023 | 1,456 | 1,691 | 121 | 1,218 | 1,570 | 4,466 | 31,246 |
| 2014 | 3,201 | 791 | 782 | 15,452 | 17 | 1,988 | 1,351 | 3,762 | 1,520 | 1,088 | 5,081 | 1,845 | 1,345 | 118 | 153 | 1,152 | 1,358 | 4,849 | 37,410 |
| 2013 | 3,031 | 766 | 869 | 13,057 | 14 | 1,812 | 2,291 | 3,463 | 959 | 1,132 | 4,578 | 1,154 | 1,431 | 269 | 147 | 1,035 | 1,058 | 4,017 | 34,026 |
| 2012 | 3,207 | 776 | 823 | 12,822 | 19 | 1,489 | 1,398 | 3,310 | 1,130 | 1,277 | 4,119 | 1,241 | 1,208 | 1,613 | 135 | 968 | 559 | 3,933 | 31,592 |
| 2011 | 3,094 | 737 | 824 | 12,505 | 13 | 1,604 | 1,610 | 2,793 | 1,055 | 1,370 | 3,716 | 1,035 | 1,490 | 1,387 | 128 | 892 | 506 | 4,061 | 32,351 |
| 2010 | 3,220 | 801 | 769 | 11,839 | 16 | 1,179 | 1,662 | 3,104 | 1,001 | 1,285 | 3,364 | 981 | 1,699 | 1,424 | 157 | 749 | 597 | 5,396 | 32,995 |
| 2009 | 3,512 | 776 | 890 | 11,719 | 38 | 1,701 | 1,276 | 2,359 | 900 | 1,384 | 3,469 | 817 | 1,444 | 1,374 | 136 | 668 | 731 | 3,505 | 28,298 |
| 2008 | 3,886 | 853 | 866 | 11,335 | 25 | 1,222 | 1,820 | 2,513 | 655 | 1,458 | 3,203 | 1,188 | 1,576 | 1,360 | 142 | 725 | 604 | 4,298 | 21,942 |
| 2007 | 3,305 | 873 | 827 | 11,950 | 26 | 1,436 | 1,565 | 2,418 | 589 | 1,368 | 3,053 | 1,037 | 1,426 | 1,405 | 150 | 553 | 457 | 3,606 | 20,994 |
| 2006 | 3,487 | 798 | 816 | 10,495 | 27 | 1,376 | 1,450 | 2,433 | 607 | 1,317 | 2,535 | 611 | 1,418 | 1,399 | 125 | 515 | 437 | 4,066 | 20,443 |
| 2005 | 3,374 | 843 | 854 | 11,627 | 32 | 1,389 | 1,537 | 2,493 | 500 | 1,256 | 2,527 | 678 | 1,348 | 1,306 | 157 | 529 | 525 | 3,513 | 18,958 |
| 2004 | 3,756 | 898 | 853 | 10,827 | 66 | 1,516 | 1,337 | 1,941 | 314 | 1,147 | 2,288 | 867 | 1,051 | 1,325 | 140 | 109 | 409 | 4,368 | 16,908 |
| 2003 | 3,163 | 843 | 1,007 | 10,671 | 71 | 1,606 | 1,177 | 1,913 | 235 | 1,068 | 2,018 | 498 | 1,453 | 1,253 | 105 | 565 | 492 | 3,919 | 17,387 |