Shift in South Korean University Applications: Fewer Students Targeting Seoul
recent university request data indicates a developing trend of South Korean students moving away from the customary focus on attending universities in seoul.
According to the university admissions platform Jinhaksa,the proportion of students applying to seoul-based universities for the 2026 admissions cycle decreased substantially to 18.8%, a five-percentage-point drop from 2024. This represents the lowest figure recorded as a major overhaul of the College Scholastic Ability Test in 2022.
Prior to this decline, the ratio had been steadily increasing: 22.2% in 2022, 23.6% in 2024, and 23.8% in 2025.
Concurrently, applications to universities located outside the capital city have risen across most regions. notably, applications from students in the capital area to universities in the chungcheong and Gangwon provinces increased, while students from outside the capital area are increasingly choosing institutions within their own regions.
Experts attribute this shift to factors such as lower living expenses, improved chances of admission, and the expansion of special admission tracks designed for local students.
“Many students are avoiding the intense competition in Seoul and choosing regional universities strategically,” stated Mr. Woo Yeon-cheol, head of the Jinhaksa Admissions Strategy research Institute. “An increase in the number of test-takers this year pushed more students toward safer choices. And this trend is expected to continue into the regular admissions round.”
(THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK)
