Top South Korean Universities to Severely Limit Repeat Test-Takers in Early Admissions

South Korea's top universities are implementing major changes to their early admission processes, significantly limiting opportunities for students who have taken the college entrance exams multiple times, known as "N-su-saeng." Starting with the 2028 academic year, several leading institutions will restrict these students from applying through early admission tracks.

Analysis of data from 10 major universities, including Seoul National, Yonsei, Korea, Sungkyunkwan, Seogang, Hanyang, Chung-Ang, Kyung Hee, Ewha Womans, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, reveals that approximately 4,894 early admission slots will be affected by these new restrictions. This represents 24.2% of the total early admission capacity and marks a 2.5-fold increase in restrictions compared to the 2027 academic year.

The most substantial impact will be felt in the student record-based curriculum assessment (haksaengbu gyogwa) track, where over 83.3% of available positions will no longer accept N-su-saeng applicants. This move is widely interpreted as an effort to preemptively address potential fairness issues arising from the conversion of the 9-grade internal grading system to a 5-grade scale. Restrictions will also apply to a smaller portion of comprehensive student record assessment (haksaengbu jonghap) and essay-based (non-sul) admissions.

With N-su-saeng facing a more challenging early admission landscape, experts predict a surge of these students, particularly those with strong academic records and "half-year" retakers, into the 2027 admissions cycle. Im Seong-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, advised that for current high school seniors with excellent grades, meeting the minimum university entrance exam score requirements (su능 choijaehaknyeok) will become crucial for success in early admissions.

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Due to the concentration of N-su-saeng, it may become important for current high school students with excellent internal grades to meet the minimum college entrance exam score requirements in early admissions.