Record Number of Equivalency Exam Graduates Gain Entry to Top Seoul Universities

A growing number of students are opting for alternative educational paths to enter South Korea's most prestigious universities. In the 2026 academic year, 824 students admitted to the top 10 universities in Seoul had passed the high school equivalency exam, known as Gomjeonggo. This figure marks the highest in a decade and represents a 151.2% increase since 2017. These students now constitute 2.0% of the total intake at these elite institutions, more than double the 0.9% share recorded in 2017.

The surge in equivalency exam passers is largely attributed to a strategy where students withdraw from high school to concentrate on the College Scholastic Ability Test (Suneung) for regular admissions. This approach has been facilitated by regulations requiring these universities to fill at least 40% of their spots through Suneung-based admissions. Universities like Seoul National University, Kyung Hee University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Hanyang University, and Sogang University saw their highest numbers of equivalency exam graduates in the past decade.

However, this trend might face a shift. Starting with the 2028 academic year, universities are set to incorporate high school records more significantly into their regular admissions process. This change, driven by the implementation of the high school credit system, could diminish the advantage of focusing solely on the Suneung exam after dropping out. The Ministry of Education has indicated that this evolving admissions landscape may render the strategy of withdrawing from school to focus on Suneung less advantageous.