"Significant Drop in College Admission Rates for 'Go3' Students... Kang Min-jung Calls for Withdrawal of CSAT-Centered Education Policy"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] It has been revealed that the acceptance rate of current high school seniors (Grade 12 students) to major universities is sharply declining. Kang Min-jung, a member of the Open Democratic Party, argued that the government’s college entrance exam policy focused on the CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test) should be withdrawn as it encourages private education for repeat test-takers and above.

According to the 'Average CSAT-based Admission Acceptance Rate of Graduates from 12 Universities' submitted by the Ministry of Education to Kang Min-jung’s office on the 22nd, the acceptance rate of current high school seniors among successful applicants at these universities dropped sharply from 48.2% (6,234 students) in the 2016 academic year to 34.4% (3,592 students) in the 2020 academic year. During the same period, the acceptance rate of repeat test-takers and above increased from 51.8% (6,919 students) in 2016 to 65.6% (7,127 students) this year.

Trends in the proportion of successful applicants through the CSAT-focused admission process at 12 universities. (=Office of Assemblyman Kang Min-jung)

By university, Seoul National University had 55.7% (512 students) of successful applicants as current students in the 2016 academic year CSAT regular admissions, but this decreased to 43.47% (374 students) in 2020. At Yonsei University, the number of current student acceptances dropped by about half from 609 students (49.3%) to 31.3% (386 students) during the same period. At Konkuk University, the proportion of current students among successful applicants also significantly decreased from 45.6% (639 students) to 26.4% (283 students) over the same period.

Each university is expanding CSAT-based admissions in accordance with Ministry of Education policies. Consequently, it is analyzed that the phenomenon of "retaking the exam being essential" will be reinforced in the future. Kang Min-jung’s office stated, "The Ministry of Education linked the expansion of regular admissions to 40% with university financial support in 2018," adding, "A considerable number of universities located in Seoul have announced plans to raise the regular admission rate to 40% by the 2022 academic year. This will also influence the expansion of the regular admission rate."

Assemblywoman Kang insisted that the current government’s CSAT-focused college entrance policy must be withdrawn.

She said, "Retaking the exam is only possible for wealthy families who can afford expensive private education for several years," and added, "Contrary to common belief, the CSAT is not fair, as confirmed by the college entrance results over the past five years." She continued, "The government’s push to expand regular admissions is a policy that encourages private education and widens educational inequality, so it needs to be reconsidered," and emphasized, "The policy to expand CSAT regular admissions must be promptly withdrawn."

Meanwhile, Kang’s office investigated 12 universities (Konkuk University, Kyung Hee University, Kwangwoon University, Dongguk University, Sogang University, University of Seoul, Seoul National University, Seoul Women’s University, Sungkyunkwan University, Sookmyung Women’s University, Soongsil University, and Yonsei University) that responded to data submission requests out of 16 universities targeted for strengthening fairness in college admissions. Kang is serving as a member of the Education Committee in the 21st National Assembly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.