[2026 Early Admission] Fewer Medical School Spots, Mandatory Inclusion of 'School Violence' Records

Early Admission Applications Open September 8-12
Medical School Quota Down by 1,000 from Last Year
Mandatory Inclusion of School Violence Records Begins This Year

The application period for early admission to universities for the 2026 academic year will begin on September 8 and run through September 12. Applicants are advised to develop their early admission strategies by taking into account that the number of medical school admissions has been frozen at the 2024 level, prior to any planned increases, and that, for the first time in university admissions, records of 'school violence' disciplinary actions must be reported and considered.

According to the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) on September 4, for the 2026 academic year, 275,848 students (79.9% of the total 345,179 available spots) will be selected through early admission. The regular admission quota is 69,331 students, accounting for 20.1%. Compared to the 2025 academic year, the early admission quota has increased by 4,367, while the regular admission quota has decreased by 122.

Of the early admission slots, 85.9% will be filled through student record-based evaluations. Breaking down the numbers by category, the student record academic track accounts for 155,495 students (56.4%), which is an increase of 1,020 compared to last year. The student record comprehensive track will select 81,373 students (29.5%), followed by practical/achievement tracks with 21,865 students (7.9%), essay-based admissions with 12,259 students (4.6%), and other tracks with 4,556 students (1.7%).

A key feature of this year’s university admissions is the mandatory inclusion of school violence disciplinary records. School violence is classified into nine levels, ranging from a written apology (Level 1) to expulsion (Level 9). Depending on the university and the type of admission track, some institutions may prohibit applicants with such records from applying altogether.

Another major variable is that the number of medical school admissions has been frozen at the 2024 level, resulting in about 1,000 fewer spots compared to last year. Across 39 medical schools nationwide, a total of 3,123 students will be admitted, with 2,115 (67.7%) through early admission and 1,008 (32.3%) through regular admission. This represents a decrease of 1,487 compared to the 2025 academic year, with early admission alone seeing a reduction of 1,003 spots.

In contrast, the number of high school seniors this year is 453,812, an increase of 47,733 students (11.8%) compared to last year, which could make the admissions competition even fiercer. This is due to a temporary spike in the birth rate in 2007, the Year of the Golden Pig.

This year, early admission applicants are expected to be more likely to apply to universities that match their aspirations rather than choosing schools with lower admission standards for a safer chance of acceptance. According to an online survey conducted by Jongro Academy from July 23 to 27, targeting 1,089 test-takers, 44.5% (about 4 out of 10) said they would not apply to any universities below their academic level, even though they can apply to up to six schools through the early admission process. On average, applicants planned 2.9 applications to higher-tier schools, 2.3 to appropriate-level schools, and only 0.8 to lower-tier schools.