New semiconductor high school draws attention as Seoul Meister schools post a 2.66-to-1 competition ratio

[Financial News] Meister high schools in Seoul, which train talent for advanced industries, drew a large number of middle school applicants and posted high competition ratios.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said on the 23rd that, when applications for the 2027 school year closed at five Seoul Meister high schools, 1,604 students had applied for 604 places, for an average competition ratio of 2.66 to 1. That was 741 more applicants than last year, when 863 students applied for 540 places at four schools, producing a ratio of 1.60 to 1. By application-rate figures, the increase was a sharp 105.8 percentage points.
The school that drew the most attention in this year's admissions was Seoul Semiconductor High School, which is scheduled to open in March 2027. In its first recruitment of incoming students, 303 applicants competed for 64 places, giving it the highest ratio at 4.73 to 1. Seoul Semiconductor High School will offer departments in semiconductor equipment and semiconductor manufacturing, and plans to train specialized workers for the semiconductor industry, a key part of the government's mega-projects, through hands-on education.
The four existing Meister high schools also saw strong interest. In addition to Seoul Semiconductor High School in the semiconductor field, all the schools offering curricula tailored to industry—including Mirim Meister High School in new media content, Seoul Robotics High School in robotics, Sudo Electrical Engineering High School in energy, and Seoul Urban Science and Technology High School in overseas construction and plant engineering—saw their application rates rise from the previous year.
The large number of students applying to Meister high schools is seen as reflecting the strong appeal to young people and parents of learning specialized skills that can lead to immediate employment in advanced industrial workplaces after graduation. An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said, "We will continue to strengthen industry-tailored education and industry-academic cooperation to develop skilled talent in advanced industries such as semiconductors."
The final list of successful applicants to the Meister high schools will be announced on November 4. Then, 67 specialized high schools in the Seoul area are set to begin recruiting incoming students, starting with applications for special admissions on November 23.  

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter