Constitutional Court: "100% CSAT 'Seoul National University Special Admission for Low-Income Students' Does Not Violate Fundamental Rights"

Constitutional Court: "More than 2 years to prepare, not a deprivation of the opportunity to enter Seoul National University"

Constitutional Court Chief Justice Yoo Nam-seok and other constitutional justices were seated in the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 29th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The Constitutional Court has ruled that Seoul National University's decision to select all candidates for the special admission track for low-income students based solely on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is constitutional.

On the 6th, the Constitutional Court announced that it unanimously dismissed the constitutional complaint filed by applicant A, who claimed that Seoul National University's 2023 undergraduate admission plan violated the constitutional right to education.

In April last year, Seoul National University announced the "2023 Undergraduate Admission Plan," stating that from the 2023 academic year, the special admission track for low-income students would be conducted solely based on CSAT scores. This special admission track is intended for beneficiaries under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act and those eligible under the Single-Parent Family Support Act.

Applicant A, a high school senior this year, filed a constitutional complaint arguing that the 2023 admission plan, which stipulated that all low-income student special admission slots be selected through the CSAT-based track without using the comprehensive student record evaluation track, infringed upon his fundamental rights.

The Constitutional Court stated, "It is reasonably foreseeable that new provisions may be established reflecting each university's opinions to respect university autonomy and to ensure fair and rational operation of university admissions in the basic matters of university admissions, which are formulated and announced annually." It added, "Since the university admission implementation plans are also established and announced each year in compliance with the basic matters of university admissions, it is predictable that new provisions may be introduced annually."

Furthermore, the court noted, "This admission plan was announced on October 28, 2020, six months earlier than stipulated in the Higher Education Act, and the applicant had more than two years to prepare for the 2023 CSAT, which was held on November 17, 2022." It continued, "If the applicant wishes to apply through Seoul National University's comprehensive student record evaluation track, he can apply through the regular early admission track. If he fails in early admission, he can still apply through the special admission track for low-income students. Therefore, this admission plan does not deprive the applicant of the opportunity to enter Seoul National University."