On the morning of May 23, when the first qualification exam of the year was held, examinees were preparing for the test at Seonrin Middle School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Despite the Constitutional Court ruling in 2017 that restrictions on early admission applicants from the GED (검정고시) background were unconstitutional, it has been revealed that some universities still restrict GED holders from applying through the Student Record Comprehensive Screening (Hakjong) process.
According to the '2021 Academic Year Student Record Comprehensive Screening (Hakjong) Implementation Status of Universities' received by Kwon In-sook, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Ministry of Education, 32 out of 148 universities prohibit GED holders from applying for early admission Hakjong.
This accounts for approximately 21.6%, with private universities such as Hanyang University, Kyonggi University, and Duksung Women's University, and national universities including Chonnam National University, Kunsan National University, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, and Korea National University of Transportation blocking GED holders from applying through Hakjong.
There were also universities that only allow GED holders to apply through special admissions such as social consideration categories.
At six national universities including Pusan National University, it is known that GED holders are only permitted to apply through certain special admissions targeting recipients of basic living security benefits, low-income groups, and persons with disabilities.
Previously, on December 28, 2017, the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled that admission guidelines restricting early admission eligibility for GED holders were unconstitutional.
The Court stated, "The early admission guidelines of 11 teacher training universities, including Seoul National University of Education, which require mandatory submission of student records and thereby restrict GED holders' admission, infringe upon their right to education," and added, "Since early admission has become a form of admission that accounts for the same or even a greater proportion than regular admission, equal admission opportunities must be provided to GED holders."
Assembly member Kwon said, "In the 2021 academic year admissions, early admission accounts for 77%, and the Student Record Comprehensive Screening accounts for 32.5% of all early admissions," and added, "I will urge prompt action through the national audit."
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