Vietnamese Masan University graduate passes nursing exam, joins Changwon hospital
In short
A Vietnamese national who graduated from Masan University's nursing department passed South Korea's national nursing exam and began work as a nurse at CheongA Hospital in Changwon on Oct 6, the university and the city said. Masan University said she was the first foreign student admitted to its nursing department and the first foreign national in Gyeongnam to pass the exam and take a nursing job. Newsham reported the university held a congratulatory event for the first employment of a foreign nursing graduate.
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A Vietnamese national who graduated from Masan University's nursing department passed South Korea's national nursing exam and began work as a nurse at CheongA Hospital in Changwon on Oct 6, according to Yonhap, citing the city and the university. Newsis reported that Masan University held a congratulatory event for the first employment of a foreign nursing graduate. [ 1 , 2 ]
Bui Thi Ha An entered Masan University's nursing department in 2021 and graduated in 2025, Yonhap reported. She completed about 1,000 hours of clinical practice during her studies, and decided to study at Masan University after her older sister, who works as a staff member in the university's international exchange office. [ 1 ]
Masan University said she was the first foreign student to enter its nursing department, and the first foreign national in Gyeongnam to pass the national nursing exam and be employed as a nurse. Foreign students make up more than 10 percent of the university's student body, with about 650 of more than 5,000 students, the report said, though none had previously entered the nursing department. CheongA Hospital hired her considering the large number of foreigners visiting the hospital from nearby small and medium-sized companies, according to the report. [ 1 ]
Changwon Mayor Kang Ki-yun sent a congratulatory message, saying he sincerely congratulated a foreign student who studied and grew at a regional university on taking a first step as a nurse in Changwon's local medical field. The city described the case as showing the potential for foreign students to settle in the region and said it will continue to work with universities, companies and medical institutions to find ways to support their employment and stable settlement, according to Yonhap. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The case is presented by Changwon city as evidence that foreign students who study at regional universities can settle and work in local medical services, at a time when the university says more than 10 percent of its students are foreign. The city says it plans to keep working with universities, companies and medical institutions on employment and settlement support for foreign students.
Key facts
- Bui Thi Ha An, a Vietnamese national, entered Masan University's nursing department in 2021 and graduated in 2025, according to the university and Changwon city. [ 1 ]
- She completed about 1,000 hours of clinical practice during her studies. [ 1 ]
- She passed this year's national nursing exam and began work as a nurse at CheongA Hospital on Oct 6. [ 1 ]
- Masan University said she was the first foreign student to enter its nursing department. [ 1 ]
- Masan University said she is the first foreign national in Gyeongnam to pass the national nursing exam and be employed as a nurse. [ 1 ]
- About 650 of the university's more than 5,000 students are foreign students, over 10 percent. [ 1 ]
- CheongA Hospital hired her considering the large number of foreigners visiting the hospital from nearby small and medium-sized companies, according to the report. [ 1 ]
- Changwon Mayor Kang Ki-yun sent a congratulatory message, and the city said it will keep seeking ways to support foreign students' employment and settlement. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Details of the congratulatory event Masan University held for the first employment of a foreign nursing graduate. The Newsis report's article text was about an unrelated parliamentary hearing, so the documents do not describe the event itself.
- Whether the case is the first of its kind nationwide, rather than only in Gyeongnam. Masan University is cited as saying it is the first in Gyeongnam; the documents do not state whether similar cases exist in other regions.