Gwangju University Achieves 99% Freshman Enrollment Rate, Highest in Eight Years

Gwangju University Campus.

Gwangju University announced on March 3 that it achieved a freshman enrollment rate of 99.6%, marking its highest rate in the past eight years.

For the 2026 academic year, Gwangju University recruited 1,392 freshmen (1,320 within quota and 72 outside the quota), with 1,387 students completing registration, resulting in an enrollment rate of 99.6%. This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering that the enrollment rates of regional universities nationwide have sharply declined due to a significant drop in the school-age population since 2020.

Since the inauguration of its 10th president, Kim Dongjin, in 2022, Gwangju University has been making significant efforts to communicate not only with current students but also with prospective students, in line with the title of "the youngest university president in Korea." The university has also been strengthening its image as a youthful institution through active online and offline promotions and a variety of external activities. In addition, Gwangju University is proactively reorganizing its departments to reflect local industry trends and student demand. It has also adopted "entrepreneurship" as a core educational value, fostering an innovative mindset and a spirit of challenge among students so they are not afraid of failure.

The Admissions Office at Gwangju University explained, "This year saw students born in 2007, the Year of the Golden Pig, entering university, leading to a 10% increase in the school-age population compared to the previous year. However, the high enrollment rate was also the result of all university members uniting with a shared determination to overcome the crisis faced by regional universities."

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