Slots barred to repeat exam takers set to grow 2.5 times for 2028 admissions cycle

Jongno Academy warns repeat takers may flood this year's early admissions round

Meeting CSAT minimums becomes critical for high-GPA seniors

Seoul National University [Herald DB]
Seoul National University [Herald DB]

South Korea's top 10 universities have expanded early admissions slots restricted to current high school students by more than 2.5 times for the 2028 academic year, a new analysis shows. The shift is expected to push large numbers of high-GPA repeat exam takers — known as "N-su saeng" — into this year's early admissions competition for the 2027 academic year.

Jongno Academy released its analysis of 2028 admissions plans Sunday, finding that the 10 universities will offer 4,894 seats through early admissions tracks open only to enrolled students — up from 1,942 in the 2027 cycle, a 2.5-fold increase.

Those restricted seats account for 24.2 percent of the universities' total early admissions pool of 20,264 for 2028, compared with just 10.1 percent in the 2027 cycle.

The 10 universities are Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Sogang University, Hanyang University, Chung-Ang University, Kyung Hee University, Ewha Womans University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

Seoul National University will increase its current-student-only seats from 514 to 728, a 41.6 percent rise. Yonsei University will add 52 seats, rising from 512 to 564, a 10.2 percent increase, while Korea University will grow from 650 to 672, up 3.4 percent.

Analysts expect competition in this year's 2027-cycle early admissions round to be fiercer than ever, as repeat exam takers with strong school grades rush to apply before the new restrictions take effect.

The pressure is compounded by the fact that this year marks the final admissions cycle under the existing nine-tier school grade system, giving repeat takers an added incentive to compete in early admissions now.

"The sharp expansion of tracks barred to repeat takers in 2028 means students who have already graduated but have strong school records — including those studying part-time while enrolled elsewhere — could flood this year's early admissions round in large numbers," said Lim Sung-ho, head of Jongno Academy. "For current seniors with good grades, meeting the CSAT minimum score requirements in early admissions could become more critical than ever."


carrier@heraldcorp.com