Despite the establishment of legal grounds to allow card payments and installment plans for university dormitory fees, the system remains largely ignored in practice. Only 1 to 2 out of 10 universities accept card payments for dormitory fees, with fewer than 2 out of 100 students actually benefiting from the program.
According to an analysis of data submitted by the Ministry of Education to Rep. Han Byeong-do of the Democratic Party, as of 2026, only 45 out of 294 universities (15.3%) offer card payment options for dormitory fees.
The card payment system was introduced to alleviate the financial burden of lump-sum payments for students, but universities have shown little enthusiasm. Over the past three years, the number of universities implementing card payments has increased by only two, from 43 in 2024 (13.8%) to 45 in 2026 (15.3%).
Similarly, the number of universities offering cash installment payments has seen a gradual increase, from 60 in 2024 (19.3%) to 65 in 2026 (22.1%).
The low adoption rate is primarily attributed to the indifference of private universities, which make up a significant portion of the total. The adoption rate for card payments among national and public universities rose from 41.3% (19 out of 46) in 2024 to 55.0% (22 out of 40) in 2026.
In contrast, private universities have remained stagnant, with adoption rates hovering around 9%: 9.1% (24 out of 265) in 2024, 8.6% (23 out of 266) in 2025, and 9.1% (23 out of 254) in 2026.
Looking at actual student usage, the situation is even more concerning. Of the 354,819 dormitory residents across the country in 2026, only 6,146 students (1.73%) paid their dormitory fees by card, a decrease from 6,229 students (1.79%) the previous year.
Only 16,523 students (4.66%) utilized cash installment payments. Alarmingly, 67.7% of universities, totaling 199 institutions, reported having no students using either card or installment payments. These universities have a combined dormitory capacity of 190,402, leaving many students without access to these payment options.
Among the few students who did utilize these payment methods, there is a significant concentration in specific national and public universities. While these institutions account for 27.4% of total dormitory capacity, they dominate the numbers of card payment users (73.3% or 4,507 students) and installment payment users (79.1% or 13,074 students).
In 2026, the top universities for card payments included Chungnam National University (1,224 students), Chungbuk National University (536), and National Changwon University (399), with private universities like Konkuk University (404) being a rare exception. The trend is similar for installment payments, with Seoul National University (5,608), Jeonbuk National University (2,532), and Chungnam National University (2,089) showing a clear preference for national and public institutions.
Rep. Han Byeong-do stated, "Despite the passage of a revision to the Higher Education Act aimed at promoting installment and card payments for dormitory fees, the on-the-ground experience remains woefully inadequate. To alleviate the financial burden on students, universities must revise their regulations and prepare for implementation, while also identifying the factors hindering private universities from adopting these payment methods and developing strategies to encourage participation."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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