This year, among the new students at Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University (SKY), those from specialized high schools, independent private high schools, and gifted schools have reached the lowest level in the past five years.
On the 6th, Jongno Academy announced that, based on an analysis of the 'announcement data on high schools of new students by university' released through the College Information Center on the 30th of last month, a total of 3,485 new students from specialized high schools, independent private high schools, and gifted schools were counted.
The number of new students from specialized high schools, independent private high schools, and gifted schools at each university was as follows: ▲Seoul National University 1,372 ▲Korea University 1,124 ▲Yonsei University 989.
By year, the numbers were ▲2021 school year 3,768 ▲2022 school year 3,702 ▲2023 school year 3,635 ▲2024 school year 3,748, indicating a decrease of 263 students (7.0%) from last year, marking the lowest level in the past five years. Of the 263 students who dropped out, 210 were from independent private high schools.
At each university, the number of new students from specialized high schools, independent private high schools, and gifted schools decreased from 1,390 last year to 1,372 this year, a drop of 18 students (1.3%) at Seoul National University. Yonsei University saw a decrease from 1,126 to 989, a drop of 137 students (12.2%), and Korea University decreased from 1,232 to 1,124, a decrease of 108 students (8.8%).
The ratio of new students from specialized high schools, independent private high schools, and gifted schools for the 2025 school year was ▲Seoul National University 36.3% ▲Yonsei University 21.9% ▲Korea University 21.7%, giving an average ratio of 25.9% across the three universities.
Jongno Academy noted that the decrease in the proportion of new students from specialized and independent private high schools at Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University is likely due to a combination of factors, including the possibility that they applied to medical schools due to an increase in medical school admissions, cross-application of science students to liberal arts, and the non-major selection process.