The number of overenrolled freshmen at universities reached 191 last year, prompting the Education Ministry to strengthen related regulations. The ministry will implement strict penalties, including disciplinary actions against responsible parties and financial sanctions linked to support programs, in cases of large-scale overenrollment due to intentional or significant errors by universities.
On August 3, the Education Ministry released data on the occurrence of overenrollment over the past five years. According to the ministry, the total number of overenrolled students in the 2026 academic year was recorded at 191.
This figure marks a significant increase compared to 48 students in the 2022 academic year, 65 in 2023, and 41 in 2024. It also represents a notable rise from the 135 students recorded in 2025. The primary concern is that overenrollment in a given year can lead to a reduction in enrollment numbers in subsequent years, directly disadvantaging students in other academic years.
Breaking down the 191 overenrolled students for the 2026 academic year, 135 were due to 'tie-breakers,' while 56 were attributed to 'university errors.' The increase in overenrollment due to tie-breakers is linked to a rise in total applications, which grew from 3,825,359 in 2024 to 3,976,875 in 2025 (a 4.0% increase) and further to 4,392,402 in 2026 (a 10.4% increase).
Notably, the 56 students overenrolled due to university errors typically arise from mistakes made during the recruitment of additional candidates or from rounding errors in calculating the number of students admitted through special admissions.
In the 2026 academic year, three universities were found to have overenrolled more than five students due to university errors: Joongwon University (24 students), Soonchunhyang University (11 students), and Gimcheon University (8 students). Additionally, 10 other universities reported a total of 13 overenrolled students due to university errors. Soonchunhyang University, which faced controversy for overenrolling 11 students in its medical program, also cited operational errors in its admissions process.
In response to the escalating situation, the Education Ministry has begun revising the guidelines for handling unfilled spots and overenrollment. Once the revisions are complete, the ministry will be able to demand disciplinary actions against responsible parties at universities in cases of intentional or significant overenrollment. Furthermore, the ministry will recommend that universities conduct thorough self-assessments of their tie-breaking procedures and admissions management systems.
Starting in the 2027 academic year, if large-scale overenrollment occurs due to intentional or significant errors by universities, the Education Ministry plans to conduct its own investigations and, if necessary, refer cases for prosecution. The ministry is also considering imposing financial penalties linked to support programs for universities that experience large-scale overenrollment.
Lee Hae-sook, head of the Education Ministry's Higher Education Policy Office, stated, "When overenrollment occurs, it can lead to a reduction in enrollment numbers in subsequent years, disadvantaging students in other academic years. Therefore, strict management of overenrollment is necessary to prevent such situations from arising. We will closely monitor and manage to minimize future overenrollment."
On August 3, the Education Ministry released data on the occurrence of overenrollment over the past five years. According to the ministry, the total number of overenrolled students in the 2026 academic year was recorded at 191.
This figure marks a significant increase compared to 48 students in the 2022 academic year, 65 in 2023, and 41 in 2024. It also represents a notable rise from the 135 students recorded in 2025. The primary concern is that overenrollment in a given year can lead to a reduction in enrollment numbers in subsequent years, directly disadvantaging students in other academic years.
Breaking down the 191 overenrolled students for the 2026 academic year, 135 were due to 'tie-breakers,' while 56 were attributed to 'university errors.' The increase in overenrollment due to tie-breakers is linked to a rise in total applications, which grew from 3,825,359 in 2024 to 3,976,875 in 2025 (a 4.0% increase) and further to 4,392,402 in 2026 (a 10.4% increase).
Notably, the 56 students overenrolled due to university errors typically arise from mistakes made during the recruitment of additional candidates or from rounding errors in calculating the number of students admitted through special admissions.
In the 2026 academic year, three universities were found to have overenrolled more than five students due to university errors: Joongwon University (24 students), Soonchunhyang University (11 students), and Gimcheon University (8 students). Additionally, 10 other universities reported a total of 13 overenrolled students due to university errors. Soonchunhyang University, which faced controversy for overenrolling 11 students in its medical program, also cited operational errors in its admissions process.
In response to the escalating situation, the Education Ministry has begun revising the guidelines for handling unfilled spots and overenrollment. Once the revisions are complete, the ministry will be able to demand disciplinary actions against responsible parties at universities in cases of intentional or significant overenrollment. Furthermore, the ministry will recommend that universities conduct thorough self-assessments of their tie-breaking procedures and admissions management systems.
Starting in the 2027 academic year, if large-scale overenrollment occurs due to intentional or significant errors by universities, the Education Ministry plans to conduct its own investigations and, if necessary, refer cases for prosecution. The ministry is also considering imposing financial penalties linked to support programs for universities that experience large-scale overenrollment.
Lee Hae-sook, head of the Education Ministry's Higher Education Policy Office, stated, "When overenrollment occurs, it can lead to a reduction in enrollment numbers in subsequent years, disadvantaging students in other academic years. Therefore, strict management of overenrollment is necessary to prevent such situations from arising. We will closely monitor and manage to minimize future overenrollment."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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