Even After Getting into Top Universities (SKY), Many Say “I Want to Go to Medical School”... 2,415 Early Admission Students Decline Enrollment

[Financial News] In the 2026 university early admission process, 2,415 students who were initially accepted to Seoul National University (SNU), Yonsei University, and Korea University declined to enroll. This is the highest figure in the past five years, and most of these students are believed to have chosen to apply for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
According to Jongro Academy on the 18th, 2,415 students who were initially accepted to SNU, Yonsei University, and Korea University through early admission declined enrollment due to multiple admissions. This is the first time in five years that the number of students declining initial offers at these three universities has exceeded 2,400.
By university, the numbers are: SNU 131, Yonsei University 1,025, and Korea University 1,259. Notably, at Yonsei University and Korea University, the number of students who declined early admission offers accounted for 46.3% and 46.6% of the early admission quota, respectively—nearly half.
By academic track, 1,084 students in humanities declined enrollment, a decrease of 1.8% (20 students) from the previous year, while 1,305 students in natural sciences declined, an increase of 4.9% (61 students). This is the highest number of natural sciences students declining initial offers in the past five years.
These results suggest a continued preference for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences among top students. Lim Seong Ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, explained, "Despite a reduction in medical school admissions for 2026, it appears that a significant number of students from the natural sciences tracks at SNU, Yonsei University, and Korea University have still chosen medical fields due to multiple admissions."
He added, "Given the current situation at SNU, Yonsei University, and Korea University, the preference for medical fields continues to rise. Considering the increasing number of students in natural sciences at these universities declining enrollment, it is expected that other universities will also see a larger number of additional admissions in natural sciences compared to humanities."
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter