One in Five New Seoul National University Medical Students from 'Three Gangnam Districts'... Over 30% at Hanyang University

"Excessive concentration leads to intense competition"
Most major medical schools in the Seoul metropolitan area exceed 20%

A medical school in Seoul (photo for illustrative purposes and not directly related to the article). Photo by Kim Hyunmin

This year, one out of every five new students at Seoul National University College of Medicine graduated from a high school in the three Gangnam districts (Gangnam, Seocho, and Songpa). As similar trends are observed at other major medical schools nationwide, concerns are being raised about excessive concentration.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Education to Assemblyman Kim Moonsu of the National Assembly's Education Committee on the 13th, 21.9% of this year’s incoming class at Seoul National University College of Medicine are graduates of high schools in the three Gangnam districts. This means that two out of every ten students are from these areas.

Given that the proportion of new students from the three Gangnam districts among all new students at Seoul National University this year is 12.85%, the concentration of these students in the medical school is particularly high.

The proportion of new students from the three Gangnam districts at Korea University College of Medicine was also similar, at 24.78%. Other universities where the proportion of medical school freshmen from the three Gangnam districts exceeded 20% included Gachon University (26.76%), Catholic University of Korea (23.96%), Kyung Hee University (21.62%), Yonsei University Mirae Campus (22.64%), Ewha Womans University (25%), and Chung-Ang University (22.35%).

Among the 39 medical schools nationwide, Hanyang University had the highest proportion of new students from the three Gangnam districts, at 31.82%. It was the only medical school in the country where this proportion exceeded 30%.

Assemblyman Kim Moonsu stated, "We must be concerned about concentration by social class, region, and in medical schools within our education system," adding, "Excessive concentration leads to intense competition for students and burdensome private education costs for families."