Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University — rivals in the race to host a national medical school in South Jeolla Province — both recorded higher competition rates in their early admissions rounds this cycle.
Suncheon National University said it received 8,612 applications for 1,539 spots in its early admissions round for the 2027 academic year, yielding an average competition rate of 5.60 to 1.
By admissions track, the school-record-based academic track posted rates of 4.51 to 1 for the regional talent selection, 14 to 1 for the regional equal-opportunity selection, and 6.99 to 1 for the general academic track. The comprehensive review track recorded 5.70 to 1 for the interview-based selection, 6.16 to 1 for the document-based selection, 7.43 to 1 for the social diversity selection, and 7.81 to 1 for the practical skills selection.
The overall rate represents a 30.5 percent increase from last year's 4.29 to 1, which the university said again demonstrated its educational competitiveness as the region's flagship national university and the high level of attention from prospective students.
Mokpo National University also closed its early admissions window, drawing 9,949 applications for 1,782 spots for an average competition rate of 5.58 to 1.
By track, 7,278 applicants (73.2 percent) applied through the school-record-based academic track and 2,398 (24.1 percent) through the comprehensive review track. Among them, 2,159 applicants — 21.7 percent of the total — applied through the regional talent track, which is open to students from high schools in the Honam region.
By department, the pharmacy program led all programs with 497 applicants competing for 24 seats, a rate of 20.71 to 1.
The semiconductor engineering department followed at 17.9 to 1, with nursing at 10.6 to 1 and social welfare at 10.0 to 1, making those four departments the most competitive.
parkds@heraldcorp.com
