The number of applicants for regular admissions in 2025 at 39 medical schools nationwide has surpassed 10,000. This is an increase of about 30% compared to the previous year.
According to Jongno Academy on the 5th, the number of applicants for regular admissions to medical schools in 2025 totaled 10,519, an increase of 2,421 (29.9%) from the previous year.
While the number of applicants reached 9,000 in the 2022 academic year, when the transition of graduate schools of medicine to undergraduate medical schools was completed, this marks the first time in six years that the number has surpassed 10,000.
However, the average competition rate for regular admissions to medical schools nationwide was 6.58 to 1, slightly lower than the previous year's 6.71 to 1. The expansion of medical school enrollments and the transfer of students who were not filled through early admissions to regular admissions increased the number of regular admission slots from 1,206 to 1,599. This year, the number of students transferred from early to regular admissions was 105, more than three times the previous transfer number of 33.
Examining the increase in the number of applicants for regular medical school admissions by region compared to the previous year, the Chungcheong region had the highest number with 762 applicants. Seoul region saw an increase of 55 applicants, with a growth rate of only 3.6%. The average competition rate for eight medical schools in the Seoul region was 4.19 to 1, up from the previous year's 3.73 to 1.
The highest competition rate nationwide was recorded at Soonchunhyang University with 26.19 to 1. It was followed by Kosin University (25.77 to 1), Dongguk University Wise Campus (16.33 to 1), and Dankook University Cheonan Campus (15.95 to 1). In the metropolitan area, the highest competition rate was at Kyunghee University (8.22 to 1).
The number of applicants for the local talent selection process at 21 regional medical schools during regular admissions was 2,162, an increase of 966 (80.8%) from the previous year.
Due to the 'medical school concentration' phenomenon, the number of applicants for Seoul National University's natural sciences (excluding the medical institutional sector) decreased by 18.7% to 2,549 compared to the previous year. Yonsei University also saw a 9.3% decrease.
Jongno Academy noted, 'It seems that the top students from the College Scholastic Ability Test are also focusing on applying to medical schools with regular admissions,' adding that 'the number of students leaving regional medical schools due to overlapping admissions is likely to increase significantly compared to last year.' The academy also predicted, 'Given the current regular admission application trends, the acceptance line for science and engineering departments is expected to be lower than that of medical schools.'