Early-Admission Competition for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix Contract Departments Hits Record High Amid Semiconductor Boom

[Financial News]  

Amid a semiconductor boom, early-admission competition for major university semiconductor contract departments affiliated with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix reached an all-time high.
According to Jongno Academy on the 11th, a total of 5,992 students applied to semiconductor contract departments at five universities—Yonsei University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Sogang University and Hanyang University—for the 2027 academic year. That was an increase of 972 applicants, or 19.4%, from 5,020 last year. The average competition ratio rose from 23.90 to 1 last year to 28.53 to 1 this year, the highest since the departments were established, based on Jongno Academy's records.
The increase was particularly pronounced in contract departments affiliated with SK hynix. The three departments at Korea University, Sogang University and Hanyang University received 3,152 applications, up 675, or 27.3%, from last year. The two departments affiliated with Samsung Electronics at Yonsei University and Sungkyunkwan University received 2,840 applications, an increase of 297, or 11.7%, year on year.
By department, Sogang University's Department of System Semiconductor Engineering, affiliated with SK hynix, recorded the highest competition ratio at 66.15 to 1. It was followed by Hanyang University's Department of Semiconductor Engineering (SK hynix) at 44.41 to 1, while Sungkyunkwan University's Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering, affiliated with Samsung Electronics, posted a ratio of 36.84 to 1. Korea University's Department of Semiconductor Engineering (SK hynix) recorded 14.57 to 1, and Yonsei University's Department of System Semiconductor Engineering (Samsung Electronics) recorded 10.85 to 1.
However, the high competition ratios for Sogang, Hanyang and Sungkyunkwan universities were also partly driven by their highly competitive essay-based admissions. Jongno Academy analyzed that essay-based admissions tend to attract more applicants because they place relatively less emphasis on school-record academic performance.
By admissions category, Sogang University's essay-based admissions had the highest competition ratio at 297.67 to 1. Hanyang University's essay-based admissions recorded 211.00 to 1, Sungkyunkwan University's mathematics-based essay admissions posted 124.10 to 1, and Yonsei University's essay-based admissions recorded 33.75 to 1.
Applications increased at all four universities except Yonsei. Sogang University recorded the largest growth, with 354 more applicants than last year, an increase of 36.5%. Hanyang University added 250 applicants, or 21.3%; Korea University added 71, or 21.1%; and Sungkyunkwan University added 309, or 18.0%. Yonsei University saw its applications fall by 12, a decrease of 1.5%.
Lim Seong Ho, head of Jongno Academy, said, "Both the number of applicants and the competition ratio for semiconductor contract departments reached record highs." He analyzed, "With employment difficult, preferences for contract departments have risen sharply due to improved earnings at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix and the semiconductor boom. The increase in applicants appears to have become large enough to affect the actual admission cutoff."
This year, overlapping admissions to medical schools and semiconductor contract departments are also being cited as a variable. Lim said, "As the introduction of the regional physician system has increased the number of medical school openings, a considerable number of applicants may be admitted to both medical schools and semiconductor contract departments." He added, "It remains to be seen whether students admitted to both will ultimately choose medical school or a semiconductor contract department."
[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter