Seoul 'Private Elementary School Admission Restrictions' Lead to Decline in Competition Rate... Next Year's Admission Competition Rate at 7.5 to 1

Total Number of Applicants: 27,269

After restrictions on applications to private elementary schools in Seoul, the admission competition rate has slightly decreased.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 22nd the '2025 Academic Year Seoul Private Elementary School New Student Application Status' collected from the 8th to the 13th of this month.

The admission competition rate for private elementary schools in the 2025 academic year was 7.5 to 1, slightly down from last year's rate of 7.8 to 1. The number of applicants was 27,269, a decrease of 810 compared to last year.

Elementary school entrance ceremony scene (unrelated to article content) Photo by Heo Young-han.

Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education improved the system to allow each new student to apply to up to three schools. As a result, the private elementary school application competition rate, which had surged to 12.9 to 1 last year, is considered to have stabilized. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained, "During this year's application process, there were complaints about cases of duplicate applications to four or more schools using the 'Jinhaksa Apply' membership registration procedure. However, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education verified the facts and immediately responded and took action in consultation with the Private Elementary School Association."

Preliminary gathering dates and admission information for each private elementary school can be found on each school's website. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to issue public elementary school enrollment notifications to school-age children, excluding those expected to enter national and private elementary schools, in cooperation with administrative welfare centers.

From the 9th to the 20th of next month, enrollment notification letters will be sent by mail (registered mail) or in person to the guardians of all children expected to enter elementary school at the administrative welfare centers in their residential areas. Along with this, an online enrollment notification issuance service will be provided through the Government24 website and Seoul City's online civil service portal.