As expectations rise for a strong semiconductor cycle and job guarantees, applicants to the semiconductor contract departments at Yonsei University and Korea University increased, while applicants to medical schools at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University (SKY) fell across the board. In particular, Korea University's semiconductor engineering department, linked with SK hynix, saw applicants jump more than 20% in a year, posting the highest competition rate since the department was created.
An analysis by Jongro Academy of early admissions for the 2027 academic year found that applicants to Yonsei University and Korea University's semiconductor contract departments totaled 1,223, up 60 (5.2%) from a year earlier. By contrast, applicants to medical schools at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University fell by 368 (11.3%) from the previous year.
The semiconductor contract departments tied to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are run at Yonsei University and Korea University, respectively. Because graduates who meet certain requirements move on to jobs at the corporations, interest among top-tier test takers appears to have risen in step with the semiconductor upcycle.
The rise in applicants was especially notable at Korea University's semiconductor engineering department, which has a contract with SK hynix. This year, 408 people applied, up 71 (21.1%) from 337 last year. The competition rate was 14.57 to 1, marking a record high for both applicants and competition since the department was launched for the 2021 academic year.
Yonsei University's system semiconductor engineering department, a Samsung Electronics contract department, drew 815 applicants. That was down 11 (1.3%) from 826 last year. The competition rates were 10.87 to 1 for Yonsei University's system semiconductor engineering department and 14.57 to 1 for Korea University's semiconductor engineering department.
By admission track, Korea University's semiconductor engineering department also stood out. For the field-fit track, 232 people applied for 14 seats, producing a competition rate of 16.57 to 1. That was 57 more applicants than last year's 175 (12.5 to 1). The academic excellence track drew 176 applicants, up 14 from last year.
Meanwhile, all three SKY medical schools saw fewer applicants. Applicants to Seoul National University's medical school fell by 100 (9.5%) from a year earlier, Yonsei University's by 85 (12.4%), and Korea University's by 183 (11.9%).
Competition rates also declined. Seoul National University's medical school fell from 10.92 to 1 to 9.88 to 1, Yonsei University's from 10.86 to 1 to 9.51 to 1. Korea University's also dropped from 22.97 to 1 to 20.24 to 1.
Im Seong-ho, head of Jongro Academy, said, "The increase in applicants to the Yonsei and Korea University semiconductor contract departments suggests top-tier test takers are showing greater preference for these programs," and noted, "The decline in applicants to the medical schools at Seoul National, Yonsei, and Korea University appears to reflect a tendency to apply more safely based on admission odds, along with a dispersal effect from the expansion of recruitment for regional doctors in provincial areas."