Why Is It Important to Distinguish Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons? (Full Text)

Let us begin with a simple example. There were two high school friends, A and B. Both dreamed of becoming teachers, studied diligently, and were admitted to Seoul National University with excellent grades.

A entered the Department of English Education and B the Department of Mathematics Education. Four years later, one became an English teacher and the other a mathematics teacher. Both became teachers, but they taught different subjects. Their four years of university education were a process that turned high school students who had vaguely dreamed of becoming teachers into more specific, professional teachers.

Depending on which university and which department we choose, we go on to a variety of professions, such as teacher, lawyer or architect.

Korea’s medical education system is similar. After graduating from medical school, one obtains a medical license by passing the national medical licensing examination administered by the state. One then goes through a four-year specialty training program, similar to a regular university course, to become a specialist in a particular field. Depending on the specialty in which one chose to train, one acquires a different expertise, much like the difference between a music teacher and a physics teacher.

In Korea, about 80% of all doctors hold specialist qualifications, so most people believe that they are being treated by specialists. However, unlike the general medical license, specialist certification does not define an exclusive scope of practice. For example, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology is clearly an expert who has received training specialized in obstetric and gynecological care, yet a doctor who is not an obstetrics and gynecology specialist may also provide obstetric and gynecological care. This is because obtaining a medical license confers the authority to perform all medical practices.

It is therefore self-evident that board-certified plastic surgeons, who have completed systematic training in plastic surgery and passed the qualifying examination, will provide more specialized care in plastic surgery, as experts in the field, than specialists in other specialties. However, it is not a legal problem for specialists in other departments who are not board-certified plastic surgeons, or even for doctors who have not completed an internship, to perform plastic surgery.

One cannot conclude that it is illegal or unethical simply because someone who is not a board-certified plastic surgeon performs plastic surgery. They are doctors who have passed the national medical licensing examination according to the standards set by the state, and they have legitimately acquired the right to practice medicine.

However, calling oneself a plastic surgeon without clearly disclosing one’s training history or specialty, even if not illegal, is highly shameless conduct and can be said to lack the high ethical standards required of professionals.

Because such conduct is carried out so subtly, even journalists, whose profession is to convey the truth, are often confused and write their articles accordingly.

Through this board, we intend to make clear whether a "plastic surgery" doctor mentioned in the media in connection with incidents and accidents is a specialist who has completed the prescribed training or someone posing as a specialist. This is one way of establishing a correct understanding of plastic surgery and enhancing trust in the Korean medical community.

We ask for your continued interest. Thank you.