Preference for Gyodae also declined... Admission competition rates dropped simultaneously at 10 nationwide locations

Average Competition Rate 1.87 to 1... Decline for the First Time in 3 Years
Significant Drop in Competition Rate for General University Elementary Education Department as Well

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] It has been revealed that education universities could not avoid the downward trend in competition rates in the 2023 academic year regular admissions. This is interpreted as a result of declining preference for teaching careers and a decrease in the number of examinees.

According to Uway on the 4th, an analysis of the 2023 regular admission application status for 10 education universities nationwide showed that 3,822 applicants applied for a total of 2,047 openings. The average competition rate was 1.87 to 1, slightly down compared to the previous year (2.21 to 1).

The competition rates by university were △ Gyeongin National University of Education 1.37 to 1 △ Daegu National University of Education 1.73 to 1 △ Seoul National University of Education 1.77 to 1 △ Busan National University of Education 1.79 to 1 △ Kongju National University of Education 1.83 to 1 △ Jinju National University of Education 1.83 to 1 △ Gwangju National University of Education 1.99 to 1 △ Jeonju National University of Education 2.05 to 1 △ Chuncheon National University of Education 2.16 to 1 △ Cheongju National University of Education 2.46 to 1, all of which declined.

Competition rates for elementary education departments at four-year general universities such as Ewha Womans University and Jeju National University also fell. The competition rates for the elementary education departments at Ewha Womans University and Jeju National University were 3.88 to 1 and 2.14 to 1, respectively, down from 5.53 to 1 and 3.48 to 1 the previous year. The competition rate for the elementary education department at Korea National University of Education also dropped significantly to 5.02 to 1 from 7.78 to 1 the previous year.

The competition rate for education universities rose consecutively for two years from 1.90 to 1 in 2020 to 2.11 to 1 in 2021 and 2.21 to 1 in 2022, but turned downward after three years. Experts see the decline in competition rates as evidence of decreased preference for teaching careers.

Lee Man-gi, head of the Uway Education Evaluation Research Institute, said, "The decline in competition rates appears to be due to decreased preference for teaching careers following the policy to reduce the number of teachers and the decrease in examinees," adding, "Last year, the average 70th percentile cutoff score for education university admissions was generally in the range of 81 to 92%, which is comparable to mid-tier universities in Seoul, but this year’s regular admissions are likely to drop further."