Seoul Semiconductor High aims for 100% job placement — and 303 students applied for 64 spots

Seoul Semiconductor High, billed as a "boot camp for semiconductor careers," recorded a 4.73-to-1 admissions ratio in its first recruitment drive ahead of its scheduled opening next March. Five admissions briefings held this year drew more than 1,200 students and parents, and that enthusiasm translated directly into a surge of applications.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Friday that 1,604 students applied for 604 spots across five meister high schools in Seoul for the 2027 academic year, yielding an average competition ratio of 2.66 to 1. Last year, four meister high schools posted a ratio of 1.60 to 1. Seoul Semiconductor High, which has drawn the most attention ahead of its opening, saw 303 applicants compete for just 64 seats in its inaugural class.

The school will operate two departments — semiconductor equipment and semiconductor manufacturing — with the goal of training specialists in fabrication processes and related machinery. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to expand vocational education in the semiconductor field, backed by an industry-aligned curriculum and dedicated lab facilities. The school has set a target of placing 100 percent of its first graduating class in related companies. It has already signed MOUs with major firms including Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Amkor Technology and Hana Micron.

Universities and industry partners are also involved in preparations for the opening. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has outlined plans to collaborate with Seoul National University's Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center, the University of Seoul and local industry. The school will be equipped with extended-reality labs for learning semiconductor processes and smart-factory training facilities, and efforts are underway to secure specialist teachers and provide staff training.

The so-called "semiconductor school effect" has also lifted interest in existing schools. The four other meister high schools — excluding Seoul Semiconductor High — received 1,301 applications combined, up 438 from last year.

Seoul's meister high schools each focus on a distinct industrial sector. Seoul Semiconductor High covers semiconductors, Mirim Meister High covers new media content, and Seoul Robot High handles robotics. Sudo Electric Technical High School trains students in energy, while Seoul Urban Science and Technology High School focuses on overseas construction and plant engineering.

Final admission results for meister high schools are scheduled to be announced Nov. 4. Seoul's 67 specialized high schools will begin accepting applications for their special admissions track on Nov. 23.

"We plan to strengthen the curriculum and industry-academia cooperation in line with workforce demand from advanced industries such as semiconductors," the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said. "We will continue to support students in choosing career paths and securing employment."