Change of accreditation standards of medical schools by the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation from 2000 to 2019

It aimed to provide the change of accreditation standards of medical schools in Korea by the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (KIMEE) from 2000 to 2019. Specifically, the following was explained: the development process, setting principle and direction, items of evaluation, characteristics of the standards, and validity test of 4 cycles. The first cycle of accreditation (2000-2005) was a process to secure the minimum requirement of the educational environment. The evaluation criteria emphasized the evaluation of the core elements of medical education, including facilities and human resources. The second cycle of accreditation (2007-2010) was a process in which the university emphasized its commitment to social accountability and the pursuit of excellence in medical education. It raised the importance of the qualitative standard for judging the contents and fidelity of education. In the post-2nd cycle of accreditation (2012-2018), the certification criteria were developed to standardize the educational environment and educational programs and to use them in the development of curriculum, to continually improve the quality of basic medical education. The ASK2019 accreditation aimed at qualitative evaluation following the World Federation of Medical Education's accreditation criteria to reach the international level of basic medical education, which stresses the student-centered curriculum, communication with the society, and evaluation through whole basic medical education course. KIMEE has developed the basic medical education evaluation and certification system step by step as above. Understanding the previous process will help to develop the accreditation criteria of medical school in Korea.