"Expectations Soar for 100 Million Won Bonus" ... The University with the Highest Admissions Competition Rate

Competition Rate Hits 11.80 to 1 in Regular Admissions
Clear Preference for Industry-Contracted Departments Amid Job Market Challenges

In the 2026 regular college admissions, employment-linked departments, especially those with semiconductor-related industry contracts, saw a marked rise in popularity. In particular, departments partnered with SK Hynix attracted a high volume of applicants, recording the highest competition rates among major universities in Seoul. Analysts note that this trend reflects applicants’ preference for practical benefits, such as guaranteed employment after graduation, scholarships during enrollment, and growing expectations for large performance bonuses.

Parents attending the college admission guidance briefing for the 2026 regular admission held on the 13th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to an analysis by college admission consulting firms such as Jinhaksa on January 2, the competition rate for the Semiconductor Engineering Department at Hanyang University reached 11.80 to 1 in the 2026 regular admission, which closed on December 31 of last year. This is the highest figure among the 11 major universities in Seoul (Kyung Hee University, Korea University, Sogang University, Seoul National University, University of Seoul, Sungkyunkwan University, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Chung-Ang University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Hanyang University).

The Semiconductor Engineering Department at Hanyang University is an industry-contracted program with SK Hynix, guaranteeing employment at the company after graduation and offering various benefits such as scholarships during enrollment. Recently, expectations that SK Hynix will pay an average performance bonus of 100 million won per employee have further heightened the interest of applicants.

SK Hynix Headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. The Asia Business Daily DB

In this year’s regular admissions, other SK Hynix-contracted departments also recorded high competition rates, such as Sogang University’s Semiconductor Engineering Department (9.00 to 1) and Korea University’s Semiconductor Engineering Department (7.47 to 1).

In contrast, departments partnered with Samsung Electronics, such as Yonsei University’s System Semiconductor Engineering Department (5.84 to 1) and Sungkyunkwan University’s Semiconductor System Engineering Department (5.33 to 1), posted competition rates similar to the average for the 11 major Seoul universities (5.37 to 1).

Interest in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) was also reflected in competition rates. While Chung-Ang University’s overall competition rate dropped from 7.62 to 1 last year to 6.93 to 1 this year, its newly established Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering Department recorded a high rate of 9.40 to 1.

As the job market becomes increasingly challenging and uncertain, preference for industry-contracted programs that offer relatively clear and stable career paths after graduation is rising even further.

Woo Yeoncheol, Director of the Jinhaksa College Admission Strategy Research Institute, explained, “The results reflect applicants’ consideration of employment prospects and expected salaries after graduation when choosing universities.”