"I didn't have much of an expectation. I just said I'd apply and see how it goes. But I was really, really happy because I don't need much support from my parents.
"It takes a lot of burden off my chest," she said.
Kim has just completed her fourth year of the six-year degree, and always wanted to return to South Korea as part of her studies.
"I've just been in Auckland and spending most of my time studying and I haven't had much exposure to much else. In fifth year we get a chance to choose a topic that we're interested in and we get to go anywhere we like in the world and build experience outside of New Zealand."
Kim said while she is interested in surgery, she is not sure what she wants to specialise in.
She said while in Seoul she will have the opportunity to see a bit of everything.
"I've always wanted to be a doctor, since I was in intermediate. I like working with people and I've had a number of family members who were quite ill, so I've been exposed to the hospital doctors and systems," she said.
Kim will leave for Seoul in March.
