Semiconductor contract departments surge as Samsung, SK hynix job guarantees draw record applicants

Contract departments that guarantee graduates employment at major conglomerates have grown even more popular amid a tough job market, with applications for the 2027 academic year approaching 9,000 — a record high.

An analysis released Tuesday by Jongno Hagwon of early-admissions applications to 13 contract departments at seven major conglomerates — including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Hyundai Motor and LG Electronics — found that 8,994 students applied for 383 spots this year, yielding an average competition ratio of 23.48 to 1.

That compares with 7,607 applicants for 368 spots last year, when the ratio stood at 20.67 to 1 — meaning the applicant pool grew by 1,387, or 18.2 percent.

Semiconductor programs were particularly competitive. Five semiconductor-related departments drew 5,992 applicants for 210 spots, a ratio of 28.53 to 1 and a 972-person increase — up 19.4 percent — from last year's 5,020 applicants. Information security programs also saw a 15.1 percent rise, from 139 to 160 applicants, while automotive programs climbed 10.3 percent, from 390 to 430.

Among companies, SK hynix-affiliated departments showed the sharpest gains. Three programs at Sogang University, Hanyang University and Korea University drew 3,152 applicants for 80 spots, a ratio of 39.40 to 1 — up 675 applicants, or 27.3 percent, from last year. Samsung Electronics' five contract departments attracted 4,165 applicants for 198 spots, a ratio of 21.04 to 1.

By university, Sogang University's Department of System Semiconductor Engineering, affiliated with SK hynix, posted the highest ratio: 1,323 applicants for 20 spots, or 66.15 to 1. Hanyang University's Department of Semiconductor Engineering drew 1,421 applicants for 32 spots, a ratio of 44.41 to 1. Sungkyunkwan University's Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering, linked to Samsung Electronics, saw 2,026 applicants compete for 55 spots at 36.84 to 1.

Pusan National University's newly established Department of Smart Home Appliance Engineering, affiliated with LG Electronics, also drew strong interest in its first year of admissions, with 603 applicants vying for 20 spots at a ratio of 30.15 to 1.

Battery-related programs, by contrast, saw a sharp drop. Sungkyunkwan University's Department of Battery Engineering, affiliated with Samsung SDI, received 206 applications for 20 spots — a ratio of 10.30 to 1 — down 117 applicants, or 36.2 percent, from last year's 323. Telecommunications programs fell 11.0 percent, AI programs dropped 2.7 percent and display programs declined 1.1 percent.

Essay-based admissions drew the most concentrated competition. Sogang University's System Semiconductor Engineering general essay track saw 893 applicants for just 3 spots, a ratio of 297.67 to 1, while Hanyang University's semiconductor engineering essay track drew 844 applicants for 4 spots at 211 to 1. Sungkyunkwan University's semiconductor systems engineering essay-excellence track also posted a three-digit ratio of 124.10 to 1.

Im Seong-ho, head of Jongno Hagwon, said contract departments at major conglomerates have become a top-choice field for science-track students as the job market remains difficult. "This year, we also saw rising interest not only in semiconductor programs but in smart home appliance, automotive and information security departments," he said.

He added that preferences and cutoff scores for contract departments "can be affected every year by trends in the affiliated companies and their related industries."