SKY Graduates Also Flock to Regional Law Schools: "Academic Hierarchy Becoming Entrenched"

It has been found that one out of every three new students at regional law schools comes from undergraduate programs at Seoul National University, Yonsei University, or Korea University (collectively known as SKY). Analysts suggest that as the preference for professional careers intensifies, graduates from Seoul’s top universities are increasingly looking beyond the capital to enroll in law schools in other regions.

(Photo by The Asia Business Daily)

According to data received by Kang Kyungsook, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Korea Innovation Party, from the Ministry of Education on October 27, 31.0% (96 students) of the 310 new students admitted this year to five regional law schools-Kangwon National University, Jeju National University, Dong-A University, Wonkwang University, and Yeungnam University-were graduates of SKY universities.

Wonkwang University had the highest proportion of new students from SKY universities at 40%. This was followed by Yeungnam University (36.5%), Dong-A University (32.1%), Kangwon National University (30.2%), and Jeju National University (6.8%).

In terms of the absolute number of new students, Dong-A University and Yeungnam University had the most, with 27 each. Wonkwang University had 26, Kangwon National University had 13, and Jeju National University had 3.

When the scope is expanded to include all regional law schools, the proportion of new students from SKY universities reached 38.9%. Out of 972 new students at 11 regional law schools, 378 had completed their undergraduate studies at SKY universities.

In particular, at Pusan National University (59.1%, 78 students), Kyungpook National University (56.1%, 74 students), and Chungnam National University (53.6%, 59 students), more than half of the new students were SKY graduates.

The trend of graduates from Seoul’s top universities flocking to regional law schools is closely linked to the increasingly strong preference for professional careers seen in recent years.

The number of applicants for the Legal Education Eligibility Test has repeatedly set new records over the past five years, reaching an all-time high of approximately 19,300 for the 2025 academic year. This figure is nearly double that of the first year of law school admissions in 2009, which saw about 10,000 applicants.

However, there are concerns that the influx of SKY graduates into even regional law schools runs counter to the original purpose of the law school system.

Kang Kyungsook stated, "The law school system was established to help individuals from diverse backgrounds grow into legal professionals, but it is now reinforcing the existing academic hierarchy. It is time to consider an overall change to the law school admissions system."