The "satam-run" phenomenon (students choosing social studies, which is relatively less burdensome than science inquiry, for the college entrance exam) is reshaping the early admission landscape for the 2026 academic year. While the number of humanities applicants for early admission at 10 major universities surged from a year earlier, the number of natural sciences applicants plunged.
In the admissions industry, analysts said, "In the natural sciences, there will be a trend toward safer, lower-target early applications," and noted, "In the humanities, applicants are likely to make bolder choices, but competition will intensify due to the large number of high scorers."
According to Jongno Academy's analysis on 14th of the "2026 academic year early admission competition rates by track at major universities," the number of humanities applicants for early admission at the 10 major universities increased by 15,450 from a year earlier, while the natural sciences decreased by 6,705. The 10 major universities are Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Sogang University, Hanyang University, Chung-Ang University, Kyunghee University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Ewha Womans University.
The average competition rate at these universities was 21.87 to 1 for the humanities and 23.82 to 1 for the natural sciences. The humanities competition rate rose from a year earlier (20.59 to 1), while the natural sciences fell from a year earlier (25.25 to 1).
The picture was similar even when narrowed to SKY (Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University). SKY humanities applicants increased by 103, while natural sciences applicants decreased by 3,436. In the natural sciences, only Korea University saw an increase, with 421 more applicants. This is attributed to Korea University allowing satam in the natural sciences track, while Seoul National University and Yonsei University did not.
A Jongno Academy official said, "In the natural sciences, the reduction in medical school quotas and the 'satam-run' phenomenon are both acting as headwinds in admissions," adding, "Applicants are shifting from medical schools to general departments and from stretch applications to safer choices." In fact, early applications to medical and pharmaceutical tracks for next year plunged. The official added, "In the natural sciences, whether applicants meet the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) minimum will serve as a very significant differentiator in early admissions."
On the humanities side, the official said, "One could say the satam-run phenomenon is advantageous," but added, "With a large number of high scorers in satam and an increase in pure liberal arts students, competition is extremely intense, making it hard to conclude the landscape is necessarily favorable."
Meanwhile, the early admission competition rates at the 10 major universities are as follows for the humanities: ▲ Seoul National University 7.53 to 1 ▲ Yonsei University 14.79 to 1 ▲ Korea University 19.29 to 1 ▲ Sungkyunkwan University 34.57 to 1 ▲ Sogang University 28.65 to 1 ▲ Hanyang University 28.58 to 1 ▲ Chung-Ang University 23.88 to 1 ▲ Kyunghee University 24.65 to 1 ▲ Hankuk University of Foreign Studies 21.86 to 1 ▲ Ewha Womans University 14.9 to 1. For the natural sciences: ▲ Seoul National University 8.15 to 1 ▲ Yonsei University 16.29 to 1 ▲ Korea University 21.45 to 1 ▲ Sungkyunkwan University 33.47 to 1 ▲ Sogang University 29.83 to 1 ▲ Hanyang University 35.77 to 1 ▲ Chung-Ang University 39.03 to 1 ▲ Kyunghee University 28.16 to 1 ▲ Hankuk University of Foreign Studies 48.84 to 1 ▲ Ewha Womans University 16.16 to 1.