Sungkyunkwan University will increase undergraduate tuition for the first time in 14 years. This follows an ongoing trend of tuition hikes at universities nationwide.

The 2024 winter graduation ceremony takes place at Sungkyunkwan University in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. /Courtesy of News1

According to the university sector on the 31st, Sungkyunkwan University held its 5th Tuition Review Committee meeting on the 20th and decided to raise undergraduate tuition by 4.9%. This is the first tuition increase at Sungkyunkwan University since 2011. The university had reduced tuition once in 2012 and frozen it since 2013.

According to the school, it pleaded that the continuous freeze on tuition and recent rapid inflation have exacerbated financial difficulties, expressing the need for a tuition increase.

The student side argued that tuition should be frozen considering the burden on students. However, they agreed to the school's proposed tuition adjustment at the end of the meeting.

The student side also requested that, given the limitations on support for the National Scholarship Type II (university-linked support) due to the tuition increase, the compensation plan for this be reassessed and the size of merit-based scholarships be expanded. Additionally, they called for improvements in facilities and education quality.

The university stated that it is difficult to fully compensate the National Scholarship Type II due to funding shortages but proposed to discuss this further with the student side.