South Korean students impacted by 2028 college entrance reforms

A survey conducted by the admissions information platform Jinhaksa reveals that 82.7% of students applying for the 2027 academic year early admissions process were influenced by the upcoming 2028 college entrance system reforms.

Among respondents, 48.9% stated the reform had a 'very large influence' on their strategy, while 33.8% said it had 'some influence.' The primary impact was a heightened focus on selecting universities and admission tracks with higher probabilities of acceptance, as well as prioritizing early admissions over regular admissions.

The 2028 reforms, which will affect current high school sophomores, include transitioning the high school grading system from a nine-tier to a five-tier system and abolishing elective subjects in Korean, Mathematics, and Inquiry sections for the CSAT. Experts suggest these changes increase the complexity of admission planning as students must weigh current success against the shifting landscape of future re-attempts.