South Korea's top three universities — Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University, collectively known as "SKY" — recorded 61 unfilled freshman seats for the 2025 academic year, triple the number from five years ago. The increase is attributed to student defections following last year's medical school enrollment expansion.
According to an analysis of University Information Disclosure System data released by Jongno Academy on the 8th, 41 departments across SKY universities reported unfilled seats totaling 61 students. This marks a threefold increase from the 2020 academic year, when 14 departments had 21 unfilled positions.
By institution, Seoul National University had 13 unfilled seats across 12 departments — the highest figure in six years. Korea University recorded the largest shortfall, with 43 unfilled positions across 25 departments, concentrated primarily in natural science programs with 29 vacancies across 18 departments.
Yonsei University bucked the trend, with only 5 unfilled seats across 4 departments, down from 18 across 10 departments in the 2024 academic year. Analysts attribute the improvement to supplementary essay examinations held last year following a test question leak controversy in natural science programs, which resulted in admissions exceeding capacity.
Jongno Academy projects that unfilled seats currently concentrated in natural sciences could spread to humanities programs when the integrated liberal arts-science curriculum takes full effect from the 2028 academic year.
"As medical school enrollment expands with the introduction of the regional doctor system, combined with intensifying preference for medical programs and declining school-age population, SKY universities may see even more unfilled seats," said Lim Sung-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy.
