Republic of Korea Admissions Briefing — 2026-05-15
Starting with the 2028 academic year, major universities are planning to incorporate "qualitative assessments" into regular admissions as high school GPA becomes less of a differentiator. The Ministry of Education has announced a 6.7 trillion won joint government investment to bolster industry-integrated education to tackle the AI transition. Meanwhile, ahead of the June 3 local elections, progressive superintendent candidates have pledged to overhaul the competitive entrance exam system.
Republic of Korea Admissions Briefing — 2026-05-15
Key Education Policy and Admissions Changes
1. Ministry of Education Invests 6.7 Trillion Won in AI Talent Development
On May 13, the Ministry of Education held the 13th National Committee on Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation at the Koreana Hotel in Seoul, presided over by the co-chairs of the newly formed 4th committee. To respond to the AI transition, the Ministry plans to invest 6.7 trillion won in a joint government initiative aimed at strengthening "industry-integrated education"—where universities and companies co-design curricula—based on four key strategies, including fostering region-anchored talent and vitalizing startups.
2. 2028 Admissions: Increased Emphasis on Qualitative Student Record Reviews in Regular Tracks
According to the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE), major universities are planning to strengthen "qualitative assessments"—such as incorporating student records—even into regular (Jeongsi) admissions, starting from the 2028 academic year, as high school GPA becomes a weaker differentiator. Similar changes are expected in early (Susi) admissions as well.
3. Progressive Superintendent Candidates Propose Admissions Overhaul Ahead of June 3 Elections
Democratic progressive superintendent candidates have launched a joint campaign to transition away from a system centered on entrance exam competition and to address educational inequality. The proposal includes wide-ranging educational reforms, from restructuring the university admissions system to closing the educational achievement gap, with candidates such as Geun-sik Jeong participating.
Admissions Strategy and Analysis
1. 2028 Sungkyunkwan University’s "Middle-Ground" Strategy in School Record Selection
In the 2028 university admissions cycle, major universities are showing distinct differences in their school record-based selection (Gyo-gwa) strategies based on their respective philosophies. Analysis suggests that Sungkyunkwan University is taking a "middle-ground" approach that nevertheless contains a sophisticated strategy for talent selection. Understanding how this differs from the approaches of other major universities, such as Korea University, is critical for building a successful application strategy.
2. Big Changes in Regular Admissions: Caution Advised When Using Past Data
Jinhaksa, in an analysis of changes to the selection processes at major universities this year, emphasized that "understanding the changes in regular admissions is the first step toward building a successful strategy." The firm advises that rather than relying solely on last year's cutoff scores, students must re-examine the updated selection criteria.
3. Seoul National University Revises 2027 Admissions Plan
The Seoul National University Office of Admissions has revised its "2027 University Freshman Admissions Implementation Plan" following recommendations from the Korean Council for University Education regarding practical exams for the College of Fine Arts, the Department of Physical Education in the College of Education, and the College of Music. Students preparing for these practical-based tracks must re-check the announcements on the Seoul National University Office of Admissions website.
High School Admissions and Learning Information
No new announcements regarding high school admissions, specialized high schools, or autonomous private high schools have been collected since May 13, 2026. Below are the latest general education-related updates.
1. Seoul National University College of Engineering Name Change
Seoul National University has issued an update to its "2026 University Freshman Admissions Implementation Plan" to reflect the renaming of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (formerly the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering). Applicants are advised to double-check the exact department names when preparing for high school or university applications.
2. CHA University 2027 Admissions Plan
CHA University has released its 2027 university admissions implementation plan (draft), including special tracks for overseas citizens and foreigners. The plan explicitly states that the content is subject to change based on university structural reforms, adjustments to student quotas, and Korean Council for University Education guidelines. Students preparing for medical-related majors should check these details separately.
3. Kangwon National University 2027 Admissions Plan (Chuncheon Campus)
Kangwon National University has published its 2027 admissions implementation plan (Chuncheon) on its admissions website. Applicants targeting universities in the Gangwon region are encouraged to check the detailed schedule via the university's official portal.
Upcoming Schedule and Summary
Official details regarding specific admissions events (info sessions, application periods, etc.) since May 13, 2026, are limited. Key points to watch are as follows:
1. Monitor Policy Announcements from the 4th National Committee on Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation
With the launch of the 4th committee on May 13, the Ministry of Education is expected to announce further detailed guidelines regarding industry-integrated education and talent cultivation. Since these policies could impact university admissions structures, we recommend continuously monitoring the Ministry of Education’s official channels.
2. Ongoing Pledges from Superintendent Candidates
Candidates for the June 3 local elections are expected to continue announcing pledges regarding admissions system reforms. Depending on the election results, the policy direction for high school and university admissions in each metropolitan and provincial office of education may shift.
3. Check Updated 2027 Admissions Plans for Seoul National University
As the Seoul National University Office of Admissions has issued a revision to its 2027 practical exam plans, students preparing for arts and sports-related tracks must verify the latest version. The Seoul Career & Admissions Information Center (jinhak.or.kr) also provides links to the 2027 admissions plans for each university.
Editor's Note: This update is based on information published after May 13, 2026. Please note that new information regarding high school and autonomous private high school admissions is currently limited. Always double-check for the latest details on the official websites of individual universities and educational institutions.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
