Gifted Science Students to Enter Four Major Science and Technology Institutes Early Starting 2025

Ministry of Science and ICT Announces Legislative Notice for Related Enforcement Decree Amendment on the 17th

Starting as early as the 2025 academic year, students from science gifted schools will be able to enter the four major science and technology institutes, including KAIST, early.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 16th that it will give prior notice of legislative amendments to related regulations and enforcement decrees to introduce an early admission track for students of science gifted schools to the four major science and technology institutes.

Specifically, the amendments target the academic regulations of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the enforcement decree of the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology Act (DGIST), the enforcement decree of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Act (GIST), and the enforcement decree of the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Act (UNIST).

The proposed amendments expand the eligibility for application to the ‘Science Gifted Selection Committee,’ the institution recognizing early admission to the science and technology institutes, to include not only existing general high school students (including science high schools) but also students from gifted schools and gifted education special cases under the Gifted Education Promotion Act.

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "If this amendment and the related regulations and procedures are completed without any issues, the minimum necessary number of students from science gifted schools will be able to enter the four major science and technology institutes early starting from the 2025 academic year." In particular, it plans to pilot this at the Korea Science Academy (KSA), affiliated with KAIST. Opinions on this amendment can be submitted to the Ministry of Science and ICT by April 26. After a 40-day legislative notice period, regulatory review, legal review, vice ministerial meeting, and cabinet meeting, the amendment will be finalized.