"Trying to Enter Medical School" 182 KAIST Students Dropped Out in 3 Years...110 First-Year Students Most

182 Students Including 4 Master's and PhD Dropouts Over 3 Years
Most Dropouts Before Completing 1st Year
Dropout Applications Expected to Increase This Year Amid 'Medical School Expansion'
"STEM Talent Drain... Need to Establish Growth Ladder"

A signboard of a medical school in downtown Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Over the past three years, it has been revealed that 182 students at KAIST have withdrawn to pursue admission to medical and dental schools. Among them, some gave up their master's and doctoral degrees, raising concerns about the outflow of talent in science and engineering fields.

According to data submitted by KAIST to Hwang Jeong-ah, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee from the Democratic Party, from 2021 to June 4 of this year, 182 KAIST students withdrew for the purpose of entering medical and dental schools. Of these, 178 students withdrew during their bachelor's program, while ▲2 were in the master's program ▲1 in the integrated master's and doctoral program ▲1 in the doctoral program.

Among those who cited admission to other universities as their reason for withdrawal, 76.8% entered medical and dental schools. The number of undergraduate students who withdrew to enter medical and dental schools gradually increased from 54 in 2021 to 58 in 2022 and 62 in 2023.

Among the bachelor's students who withdrew, the largest number?110 students?withdrew before completing their first year, and 26 students left after their third year or later to enter medical and dental schools.

The timing of withdrawal was mostly concentrated in the second semester, which includes November after the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), and this year, coinciding with the increase in medical school admissions, there is a possibility of more withdrawals. Additionally, since this tally only includes students who reported their reason for withdrawal at the time of application, Hwang’s office analyzed that the actual rate of medical school admission is likely higher.

Assemblywoman Hwang emphasized, "For South Korea to leap forward as a science and technology powerhouse, it must become a country where talented individuals aspiring to be scientists do not hesitate in their career paths," adding, "In a situation where the increase in medical school admissions raises concerns about the outflow of science and engineering talent, we must establish a robust growth ladder for science and engineering fields through full support for these students."