Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters necessary for training, recognizing qualifications, and specialties for dental specialists under Article 77 (1) and (4) of the Medical Service Act. <Amended on Dec. 5, 2016>
Article 2(Definitions) #
The terms used in this Decree are defined as follows: <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; Dec. 5, 2016>
1. The term "trainee dentist" means an intern or resident who receives training at a training dental hospital or training institution to qualify as a dental specialist;
2. The term "intern" means a person who has obtained a dentist's license and is affiliated with a certain training dental hospital and trains practical skills in each clinical subject;
3. The term "resident" means a person who has completed an internship course (referring to a person who has obtained a dentist's license in cases of advanced general dentistry) or a person who is recognized by the Minister of Health and Welfare as equivalent thereto and is affiliated with a specific dental hospital or training institution and trains a specialty;
4. The term "training dental hospital" means a medical institution designated by the Minister of Health and Welfare, which trains trainee dentists;
5. The term "training institution" means a dental college or a graduate school of dentistry that trains trainee dentists after obtaining designation from the Minister of Health and Welfare.
6. The term "exclusive supervising medical specialist" means a dental specialist who is in charge of training and education for trainee dentists at a training dental hospital or training institution.
Article 3(Specialty) #
The specialties of dental specialists shall be oral and maxillofacial surgery, dental prosthetics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, dental conservation, oral medicine, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral pathology, preventive dentistry, and advanced general dentistry. <Amended on Dec. 5, 2016>
Article 4(Training) #
(1) Of dentists who intend to become dental specialists, an intern shall receive training at a training dental hospital and a resident shall receive training at a training dental hospital or training institution under this Decree.
(2) Specialties available for training at a training institution referred to in paragraph (1) shall be limited to preventive dentistry.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if a new specialty is established, the Minister of Health and Welfare may recognize a person who has majored in the specialty prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare as a person who has completed training for the newly established specialty. In such cases, such recognition shall be limited to the period until a person who has completed the training under paragraph (1) for the newly established specialty is qualified as a dental specialist for the first time. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010>
Article 5(Training period) #
(1) The training period of trainee dentists shall be 1 year for interns (excluding advanced general dentistry) and 3 years for residents; provided, in cases falling under any of the following subparagraphs, the training period of a trainee dentist shall be the period classified as follows: <Amended on Dec. 5, 2016; May 7, 2019>
1. Where a medical officer of the military who has been transferred to the military register of reserve service after completing his active duty service and intends to receive training in the relevant year of discharge from military service: A period excluding 2 months from the training period for interns or residents;
2. Where a person who has performed the duties of a public health doctor under the Act on Special Measures for Health and Medical Services in Agricultural and Fishing Villages intends to receive training in the year in which the duties are completed: The period excluding 2 months from the training period for interns or residents;
3. Where a female trainee dentist has given birth during her training period: The period excluding 3 months from the training period for interns or residents.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if it is necessary to differentiate training periods for each specialty, the training period may be extended or shortened, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010>
(3) If a training dental hospital or training institution is changed pursuant to Article 13, the period required for a trainee dentist to receive training at another training dental hospital or training institution shall be included in the training period referred to in paragraph (1) within the limit of 2 months. <Amended on May 7, 2019>
(4) The sum of the periods excluded under the subparagraph of paragraph (1) and the periods included in the training period under paragraph (3) shall not exceed 4 months for each training year. <Amended on May 7, 2019>
(5) A training year shall be from March 1 to the end of February of the following year; provided, in the case of paragraph (1) 1 and 2, the first training year shall be from May 1 to the end of February of the following year. <Added on May 7, 2019>
(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (5), the head of a training dental hospital or training institution may change the training year classified as follows; in such cases, the head of the training dental hospital or training institution shall report such fact to the Minister of Health and Welfare without delay: <Added on May 7, 2019>
Article 6(Designation of training dental hospitals or training institutions) #
(1) The head of a medical institution, a dental college, or a graduate school of dentistry that intends to obtain designation as a training dental hospital or training institution shall apply to the Minister of Health and Welfare as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. In such cases, the application shall include the designation of training specialties. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; Oct. 10, 2025>
(2) Upon receiving an application under paragraph (1), the Minister of Health and Welfare shall review it and designate the applicant as a training dental hospital or training institution only if the applicant is deemed to meet the designation criteria under Article 7. In such cases, the Minister shall also designate the training specialties that the training dental hospital or training institution may operate. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; Oct. 10, 2025>
[Title Amended on Oct. 10, 2025]
Article 7(Designation criteria for training dental hospitals and training institutions) #
(1) The criteria for the designation of training dental hospitals, training institutions, or training specialties shall be according to the following classifications: <Amended on Oct. 10, 2025>
1. Where designation as a training dental hospital or training institution is sought:
(a) It shall have a medical department related to the specialty for which it intends to provide training (applicable only to training dental hospitals);
(b) It shall have an exclusive supervising medical specialist for each specialty;
(c) It shall meet the criteria prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in terms of the size of the hospital, the number of departments, the number of exclusive supervising medical specialists, the facilities for each subject, other human resources and physical equipment, and the records of medical treatment while classifying them into internship courses and resident courses (applicable only to training dental hospitals).
2. Where designation of a training specialty is sought: It shall meet the criteria for each specialty prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in terms of the number of exclusive supervising medical specialists, annual patient treatment performance, facilities, and equipment.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Minister of Health and Welfare may determine different designation criteria for a training dental hospital, a training institution, or a training specialty in any of the following cases: <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; Oct. 10, 2025>
1. Where a national or public hospital has a dental clinic;
2. Where a training dental hospital, a training institution, or a training specialty is designated for training in a single specialty, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare;
3. Other cases where it is necessary in light of health and medical policies, such as the regulation of the supply of and demand for human resources of dental specialists.
[Title Amended on Oct. 10, 2025]
Article 8(Quota of trainee dentists) #
The quota of interns to be trained at a training dental hospital and the quota of residents to be trained in each specialty at a training dental hospital or training institution shall be determined by the Minister of Health and Welfare for each training dental hospital or training institution. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010>
Article 9(Training courses) #
The training courses for trainee dentists shall be determined by the Minister of Health and Welfare. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010>
Article 10(Remuneration for trainee dentists in national and public hospitals) #
Remuneration equivalent to that of a national public official of Grade 5 or 6 within the budget of the dental training hospital or training institution shall be paid to trainee dentists who are in training at a national or public dental training hospital or training institution.
Article 11(Authority of heads of training dental hospitals or training institutions) #
(1) The head of a training dental hospital or training institution shall select trainee dentists within the scope of the quota under Article 8 and shall guide and supervise the training of trainee dentists, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010>
(2) When the head of a training dental hospital or training institution deems that a trainee dentist is unfit for training, he or she may dismiss him or her from the training for trainee dentists.
Article 12(Keeping and retention of training rules and training records) #
(1) A training dental hospital or training institution shall prepare, keep, and retain the following rules and documents:
1. Rules on the performance of training and guidance and supervision of trainee dentists;
2. Records on the training of trainee dentists in the course of training under Article 9;
3. Minutes of various meetings related to the training of trainee dentists;
4. Records on academic meetings related to the training of trainee dentists;
5. Records on the selection, elimination, etc. of trainee dentists.
(2) Documents referred to in paragraph (1) 2 through 5 shall be retained for 5 years.
Article 13(Change of training dental hospitals) #
If any of the following causes occurs, the head of a dental training hospital or training institution may request the head of another dental training hospital or training institution to train trainee dentists under his or her control: <Amended on Oct. 10, 2025>
1. Where the designation of a training dental hospital, a training institution, or a training specialty is revoked under Article 16;
2. Where a ground for adjusting the quota of trainee dentists for the relevant specialty arises because some medical departments of a training dental hospital or training institution fail to meet the criteria for designation of each specialty under Article 7 (1);
3. Where it is deemed that it is difficult for a trainee dentist in training to continue his or her training at the relevant training dental hospital or training institution due to other unavoidable reasons.
Article 14(Prohibition of concurrent offices) #
No trainee dentist shall establish a medical institution or work for another health and medical institution (referring to a health and medical institution defined in subparagraph 4 of Article 3 of the Framework Act on Health and Medical Services) other than a training dental hospital or training institution; provided, if a trainee dentist works for another training dental hospital or training institution in the course of changing the training dental hospital or training institution for himself or herself under Article 13, he or she shall not be deemed concurrently holding office.
[This Article Wholly Amended on May 7, 2019]
Article 15(Instructions to and supervision over heads of training dental hospitals or training institutions) #
(1) The Minister of Health and Welfare may give the head of a training dental hospital or training institution an instruction necessary for the training of trainee dentists or may supervise the training status, etc. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; May 7, 2019>
(2) When the Minister of Health and Welfare supervises the status of training, he or she may request the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, or a Special Self-Governing Province Governor to verify the status of training, if necessary. <Added on May 7, 2019>
Article 16(Corrective orders and revocation of designation) #
(1) If a training dental hospital or a training institution falls under any of the following subparagraphs, the Minister of Health and Welfare may order correction within a specified period, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; May 7, 2019; Oct. 10, 2025>
1. Where it fails to meet the designation criteria for a training dental hospital, a training institution, or a training specialty under Article 7;
2. Where it selects trainee dentists in excess of the quota of trainee dentists under Article 8;
3. Where rules and documents under Article 12 are not kept or retained;
4. Where it violates an instruction from the Minister of Health and Welfare under Article 15 (1).
(2) If a training hospital or training institution in receipt of a corrective order under paragraph (1) fails to comply with such order within a specified period without good cause, the Minister of Health and Welfare may take the following measures: <Added on Oct. 10, 2025>
1. In cases falling under paragraph (1) 1: Revocation of the designation of the training dental hospital, training institution, or training specialty under Article 6 (2);
2. In cases falling under paragraph (1) 2 through 4: Adjustment of the number of trainee dentists under Article 8.
(3) Matters necessary for the corrective order under paragraph (1) and the measures under paragraph (2) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; Oct. 10, 2025>
[Title Amended on Oct. 10, 2025]
Article 17(Hearings) #
The Minister of Health and Welfare shall hold a hearing before revoking the designation of a training dental hospital, a training institution, or a training specialty under Article 16. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; Oct. 10, 2025>
Article 18(Recognition of qualification of dental specialists) #
(1) A person whose qualification as a dental specialist can be recognized shall be any of the following persons who have passed a qualifying examination for dental specialists administered by the Minister of Health and Welfare: <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; Dec. 5, 2016; May 7, 2019>
1. A dentist who has completed a training course under this Decree;
1-2. A dentist who has completed a prescribed internship course, resident training course, or equivalent course at a foreign medical institution (in cases of preventive dentistry, including training institutions) recognized by the Minister of Health and Welfare;
2. A person recognized by the Minister of Health and Welfare as a dentist who has completed training pursuant to Article 4 (3).
(2) The Minister of Health and Welfare may have corporations related to medical services prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare administer qualifying examinations for dental specialists under paragraph (1). <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; May 7, 2019>
(3) The methods and procedures for applying for a qualifying examination for dental specialists, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010>
[Paragraph (1) of this Article, which was found to be unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on September 24, 2015, is amended by Presidential Decree (No. 27664) on December 5, 2016.]
Article 18-2(Special cases concerning qualifying examinations for dental specialists) #
(1) Notwithstanding Article 18 (1), the Minister of Health and Welfare may exempt any of the following persons who are recognized as an exclusive supervising medical specialist pursuant to paragraph (2) of the Addenda to the Regulations on Training and Recognizing Qualifications for Dental Specialists (Presidential Decree No. 18040) and Article 2 of the Addenda to the wholly-amended Regulations on Training and Recognizing Qualifications for Dental Specialists (Presidential Decree No. 21150) and who fall under any of the following subparagraphs (hereinafter referred to as "person playing the role of an exclusive supervising medical specialist"), from the entire qualifying examination for dentists until the date classified as follows:
1. A person who has served as an exclusive supervising medical specialist at a training dental hospital or training institution for at least 1 year and has served as an associate professor or higher at a dental college or a graduate school of dentistry under the Higher Education Act: June 30, 2019;
2. A person who has worked as an exclusive supervising medical specialist at a training dental hospital or training institution for at least 7 years: June 30, 2019.
(2) Notwithstanding Article 18 (1), the Minister of Health and Welfare may exempt any of the following persons from part of a qualifying examination for dental specialists by the date classified as follows, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Health and Welfare:
1. A person who has served as an exclusive supervising medical specialist at a training dental hospital or training institution for at least 1 year and has served as an associate professor or higher position at a dental college or a graduate school of dentistry under the Higher Education Act: June 30, 2019;
2. A person who has worked as an exclusive supervising medical specialist at a training dental hospital or training institution for not less than 3 years but less than 7 years: June 30, 2019;
3. A person who has at least 2 years' experience of training and guidance for military trainee doctors at a training institution for military trainee doctors designated by the Minister of National Defense pursuant to the Military Service Act before or as at the time the Regulations on Training of and Recognition of Qualifications for Dental Specialists (Presidential Decree No. 18040) enters into force or as at the time the Military Service Act enters into force, while meeting all of the following requirements: June 30, 2020:
Article 19(Issuance of licenses) #
The Minister of Health and Welfare shall issue a license of a dental specialist according to the types of specialties to a person who has passed the qualifying examination for dental specialists under Article 17 within 2 months from the date of announcement of successful applicants for the examination. <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010>
Article 20(Entrustment of business affairs) #
(1) The Minister of Health and Welfare may entrust the following business affairs to organizations related to dental medical services: <Amended on Mar. 15, 2010; May 7, 2019; Oct. 10, 2025>
1. Receipt of reports on changes in the training year under the latter part, with the exception of the subparagraphs, of Article 5 (6);
2. Business affairs related to data collection for the designation of a training dental hospital, a training institution, or a training specialty under Article 6;
3. Data surveys to determine the quota of trainee dentists under Article 8;
4. Data surveys to confirm the status of training under Article 15 (1).
(2) If the Minister of Health and Welfare entrusts business affairs pursuant to paragraph (1), the Minister shall determine and publicly notify matters necessary for entrustment, such as entrusted institutions and details of entrusted business affairs <Amended on May 7, 2019>