‘No Need to Go to Seoul’… ‘In-Seoul’ Preference Shaken by Tuition Burden and Regional University Strengthening

For generations, the dream of attending a top university in Seoul has been the ultimate educational aspiration for many South Korean students and their families. The phrase 'In-Seoul' has long symbolized prestige, opportunity, and a pathway to success. However, recent trends suggest this deeply ingrained preference may be starting to crack. Data reveals a significant decline in applications to Seoul-based universities for the 2026 academic year, a reversal of a four-year upward trend. This shift is not just confined to university admissions; even the number of people moving to Seoul for educational reasons has decreased for the first time in five years. This phenomenon, as reported by Dong-A Ilbo, is multifaceted. The escalating cost of higher education, with Seoul's private institutions demanding significantly higher tuition than their regional counterparts, is a major deterrent. Furthermore, the South Korean government's strategic push to bolster the competitiveness of universities outside the capital, through initiatives like the 'Regional Doctor System' and increased funding for local institutions, appears to be yielding results. This policy shift aims to decentralize opportunities and reduce the intense concentration of talent and resources in the Seoul metropolitan area. The declining number of unfilled positions in regional universities' supplementary admissions further indicates that students are increasingly choosing to stay and study closer to home, signaling a potential recalibration of the national educational landscape and a move away from the singular focus on 'In-Seoul'.

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The cost burden and policy changes are converging, causing the university admission structure centered on 'In-Seoul' to begin to shake.