The South Korean government's implementation of the 'high school grading system' aimed at reducing competition has not yielded the expected results after one year. Instead, the number of high school dropouts and students opting for the GED has surged to unprecedented levels.
A recent analysis by Jongno Academy of data from 1,703 general high schools revealed that the number of high school dropouts nationwide rose by 163 from the previous year, reaching 18,661, the highest figure in seven years. Notably, the number of first-year students dropping out under the new grading system increased by 6.1% to 10,450, surpassing the 10,000 mark for the first time since the policy's introduction.
The increase in dropouts is particularly pronounced in the Gyeongin region (11.6% increase) and in rural areas (4.3% increase), with significant concentrations in traditional educational districts such as Gangnam, Yangcheon, and Seocho in Seoul, as well as in high-ranking schools in non-uniform regions of Gyeonggi Province.
Experts attribute this trend to a disconnect between the intended reforms of the grading system and the realities of the college admissions landscape. Initially, the reform aimed to widen the top grading bracket from the top 4% to 10%, which was expected to alleviate pressure on students. However, a simulation conducted in March by the Gyeonggi Academic Guidance Council revealed that only 1.2% of students achieved top grades across all subjects, indicating that the competitive nature of college admissions remains intact.
As a result, students have recognized that falling below the 10% threshold in school rankings makes it nearly impossible to gain admission to prestigious universities. This realization has led many to abandon public education early in favor of pursuing the GED and focusing solely on standardized tests.
The number of students registering for the 2026 GED exam reached 22,355, the highest level in 31 years since 1996, and projections suggest that the number will exceed 20,000 for the upcoming 2027 exam.
Education experts warn that without a stable college admissions track to support students who fall behind in school rankings, it will be difficult to prevent a loss of human resources and the expansion of the private education market. Jongno Academy's representative, Lim Seong-ho, stated, "As long as the selection criteria of universities and the cumulative differentiation remain unchanged, students' anxiety will persist. It is urgent to design flexible admissions policies and supplementary programs to support students who miss out on grades within the public education system."
A recent analysis by Jongno Academy of data from 1,703 general high schools revealed that the number of high school dropouts nationwide rose by 163 from the previous year, reaching 18,661, the highest figure in seven years. Notably, the number of first-year students dropping out under the new grading system increased by 6.1% to 10,450, surpassing the 10,000 mark for the first time since the policy's introduction.
The increase in dropouts is particularly pronounced in the Gyeongin region (11.6% increase) and in rural areas (4.3% increase), with significant concentrations in traditional educational districts such as Gangnam, Yangcheon, and Seocho in Seoul, as well as in high-ranking schools in non-uniform regions of Gyeonggi Province.
Experts attribute this trend to a disconnect between the intended reforms of the grading system and the realities of the college admissions landscape. Initially, the reform aimed to widen the top grading bracket from the top 4% to 10%, which was expected to alleviate pressure on students. However, a simulation conducted in March by the Gyeonggi Academic Guidance Council revealed that only 1.2% of students achieved top grades across all subjects, indicating that the competitive nature of college admissions remains intact.
As a result, students have recognized that falling below the 10% threshold in school rankings makes it nearly impossible to gain admission to prestigious universities. This realization has led many to abandon public education early in favor of pursuing the GED and focusing solely on standardized tests.
The number of students registering for the 2026 GED exam reached 22,355, the highest level in 31 years since 1996, and projections suggest that the number will exceed 20,000 for the upcoming 2027 exam.
Education experts warn that without a stable college admissions track to support students who fall behind in school rankings, it will be difficult to prevent a loss of human resources and the expansion of the private education market. Jongno Academy's representative, Lim Seong-ho, stated, "As long as the selection criteria of universities and the cumulative differentiation remain unchanged, students' anxiety will persist. It is urgent to design flexible admissions policies and supplementary programs to support students who miss out on grades within the public education system."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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