Over 70,000 Applicants for Medical School Early Admission... 15,000 More Than Last Year

Among 39 Medical Schools, 37 Closed Applications... Competition Rate 23.99 to 1
26% Increase from Last Year... Recruitment Numbers Greatly Increased, Competition Rate Declined

The early admission for medical schools in the 2025 academic year saw 15,000 more applicants than last year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Jongno Academy on the 13th, as of 8 p.m. that day, a total of 72,219 applicants applied for early admission to 39 medical schools nationwide (excluding Cha Medical School, a graduate medical school).

Compared to last year's total of 57,192 applicants for early admission to 39 medical schools, this is an increase of 15,027 applicants (26.3%).

The number of applicants to medical schools in the Seoul area was 16,671, down 8.9% from 18,290 a year ago. On the other hand, applicants to medical schools in the Gyeongin area increased by 44.4% to 22,333, and applicants to medical schools in provincial areas also rose by 41.7% to 33,215.

The current competition rate, based on the early admission quota of 3,010 students at the 39 medical schools this year, is 23.99 to 1. The competition rate itself decreased compared to last year (30.55 to 1) because the number of admissions increased by 60.8%, a larger increase than that of applicants.

Most universities closed early admission applications between the 9th and 13th. However, Catholic Kwandong University (closing at 11:30 p.m. that day) and Jeonbuk National University (closing at 6 p.m. that day), which are still accepting applications, have not yet disclosed their final competition rates. Once these two universities release their final competition rates, the total number of applicants for medical school early admission is expected to increase, and the competition rate will also change.

So far, competition rates by region have all declined. The Seoul area medical schools dropped from 41.19 to 35.77, the Gyeongin area from 131.03 to 77.01, and the provincial area from 17.89 to 14.74. By university, Gachon University had the highest competition rate at 104.19 to 1.

Next were Sungkyunkwan University (90.1 to 1), Chung-Ang University (87.67 to 1), Catholic University (65.3 to 1), Ajou University (59.35 to 1), and Inha University (49.86 to 1). In the provincial area, Yonsei University (Mirae) had the highest competition rate at 39.46 to 1.

By admission type, Sungkyunkwan University’s medical school essay screening recorded the highest competition rate at 412.5 to 1.

Jongno Academy analyzed, "Due to the expansion of medical school quotas, applicants dispersed their applications to universities in Seoul and the Gyeongin area. Although the number of applicants to provincial medical schools also increased, the competition rate decreased compared to last year due to the expansion of admission quotas."