The increase in enrollment quotas for cutting-edge majors for the 2027 academic year has been cut to less than half of past levels. Amid concerns that Korea could miss the golden window for securing cutting-edge talent, experts argue that, given the pace of change in the industrial environment, a more flexible talent-development system is needed—one that goes beyond expanding quotas centered on establishing new departments.
According to the office of Rep. Kim Yong-tae of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee, the Ministry of Education in April notified universities of the results of its enrollment quota allocations for cutting-edge fields for the 2027 academic year. Under the allocation, a total of 434 spots were added: 175 across 12 departments at eight universities in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 259 across 19 departments at nine universities outside the capital region. Seoul National University increased enrollment in its Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, among others, by 45 spots, while Yonsei University newly established an Advanced Pharmaceutical Sciences department.
Since the 2024 academic year, the Ministry of Education has eased relevant standards to allow universities to expand quotas for departments and faculties in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), biohealth, smart construction, and new energy industries. As a result, 1,829 additional undergraduate students could be selected in the 2024 academic year and 1,145 in the 2025 academic year. Excluding the 2026 academic year, for which the increase results have not been disclosed, the 2027 increase falls short of even half the 2025 figure.
Universities that had anticipated increases have expressed disappointment. Notably, Seoul National University this year pushed to establish a "Convergence AI Broad Field" admission unit but failed to win approval. A Seoul National University professor said, "At a time when AI transformation (AX) education is being emphasized worldwide, the Ministry of Education should have made a more flexible judgment." He added, "Even falling behind by one year makes it difficult to catch up with overseas universities, so it is unreasonable that they don't even clearly communicate the criteria for increases."
Regional universities, which are struggling with a declining school-age population, are even more sensitive to the issue of cutting-edge major quotas. This is because expanding quotas in cutting-edge fields is directly tied not only to competitiveness in recruiting students but also to the universities' survival strategies. A science and engineering professor at a regional flagship national university said, "Even if the faculty is somewhat lacking for now, there is a need to grant increases on the premise of a mid- to long-term expansion plan." He added, "Whether cutting-edge majors are allowed to increase is also intertwined with various financial support projects from the Ministry of Education, so it is a very important issue from the universities' perspective."
The Ministry of Education, on the other hand, takes the position that pace adjustment is needed, given that cutting-edge major quotas have increased by more than 4,000 in recent years. It argues that establishing new departments tailored to specific industry demand could end up as a "fleeting fad," and that excessive increases without adequate educational conditions could lead to a decline in education quality. A Ministry of Education official explained, "There are cases of applying for increases without sufficient preparation, such as securing faculty or building infrastructure, so we cannot simply grant approval indiscriminately."
Experts point out that, alongside quota adjustments, policy tools for nurturing cutting-edge talent must be diversified. Shin Sung-hwan, a professor in the Department of Automotive and Mobility Engineering at Kookmin University, advised, "We should expand opportunities, as in the Innovation-Sharing University project, for students to freely complete curricula in fields such as AI and big data regardless of their major." There are also voices saying that, with several years having passed since the cutting-edge major expansion policy was implemented, its performance should be reviewed. Kang Hyun-seop, a professor in the Department of Education at Kyungpook National University, stressed, "Since innovation cannot be achieved merely by changing department names, continuous evaluation and consulting from the Ministry of Education are needed."
