Pharmacy Education in Korea: Transition to Clinically Oriented Education and the Establishment of the National Specialist Pharmacist System as a Foundation for Advanced Pharmacy Practice

Pharmacy education in Korea has undergone a substantial transformation over the past two decades in response to healthcare system reforms and the increasing complexity of pharmacotherapy. The nationwide implementation of the separation of prescribing and dispensing in 2000 clarified the clinical roles of pharmacists and, together with the development of medication safety infrastructure, has influenced the direction of pharmacy education. These institutional changes have driven a reorganization of pharmacy education from a product-oriented model to a clinically oriented, patient-centered framework. The restructuring of the educational curriculum from a 2 + 4 system to an integrated six-year program, along with the expansion of experiential training, has enabled the systematic development of clinical competencies at the undergraduate level and strengthened the linkage between education and practice. Furthermore, the National Specialist Pharmacist system, legally established in 2023, has been introduced as an institutional framework that contributes to clarifying the relationship between undergraduate and post-licensure education. This review summarizes the developmental trajectory and current structure of pharmacy education in Korea, with a focus on educational reform and its relationship with clinical practice. By situating the Korean experience within an international context, this article discusses future directions for pharmacy education and the evolving role of pharmacists in response to changing healthcare environments.