The number of medical school admissions for the 2027 academic year has increased by 492 compared to the previous year, but the number of students admitted through regular admissions has actually decreased by 7. This decline is particularly evident in the general admissions category, which allows applicants from any region, indicating that the increase in medical school capacity does not directly translate to expanded opportunities for regular admissions. Admissions experts predict that the number of students carried over from early admissions due to the difficulty of the college entrance exam will be a key factor in this year's regular admissions.
On November 11, the admissions information platform JinHakSa analyzed the enrollment figures for 39 medical schools nationwide for the 2027 academic year. The initial enrollment figure for medical schools this year is 3,508, up from 3,016 last year. However, most of the increase has been allocated to early admissions, which have risen by 499 to 2,524 this year, while regular admissions have decreased from 991 to 984. Consequently, the proportion of regular admissions in the overall medical school enrollment has dropped from 32.9% last year to 28.1% this year.
A closer look at the regular admissions reveals a more pronounced reduction. The number of general admissions, which are open to students from all regions, has decreased from 747 last year to 726 this year, a drop of 21. The existing regional admissions category has also seen a decline, falling from 244 to 228, a decrease of 16. Notably, Chonnam National University saw a significant reduction from 18 to 10, while Jeonbuk National University dropped from 28 to 21. Dongguk University has eliminated its regional admissions category, which had accepted 7 students last year. Conversely, Kangwon National University and Konkuk University (Glocal) each increased their regional admissions by 3.
Among the 39 universities, 7 reduced their general admissions, while 6 increased theirs, and 26 remained the same as last year. Particularly, Soonchunhyang University experienced the largest drop in general admissions, reducing its intake from 30 to 10. In contrast, Dongguk University increased its admissions from 7 to 16.
The newly introduced 'Regional Doctor Admissions' category has also contributed to the reduction in regular admissions. This category will select a total of 488 students, with 93.9% (458 students) allocated to early admissions. Only three universities—Chungbuk National University (13), Chonnam National University (9), and Jeju National University (8)—will select students through regular admissions, accounting for just 30 students (6.1%).
As a result, excluding the 30 students from the newly established Regional Doctor Admissions, the actual number of regular admissions in the general and regional categories has decreased by 37 compared to last year.
However, this analysis is based on the 'initial enrollment figures,' which do not yet reflect the number of students carried over from early admissions. Universities will transfer any vacancies from regular admissions due to students not meeting the minimum academic standards or withdrawing due to multiple acceptances.
Notably, the minimum academic standards for medical school early admissions are set significantly higher than for other programs, leading to a considerable number of carryover students. Therefore, if the upcoming college entrance exam is deemed particularly difficult, resulting in many students failing to meet the minimum standards, the number of vacancies carried over to regular admissions could increase significantly.
Woo Yeon-cheol, head of the Admissions Strategy Research Institute at JinHakSa, stated, "While the overall number of medical school admissions has increased this year, the number of students admitted through regular general and regional categories has actually decreased. We should not hastily conclude that the increase in medical school capacity automatically leads to expanded opportunities for regular admissions." He further advised that students should verify the final regular admissions figures and eligibility criteria for each university after the announcement of early admissions results to develop their application strategies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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