[2020 National Audit] 6 out of 10 Seoul National University Students Are Children of High-Income Families... Only 2 from Low-Income Families

Democratic Party Lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu: "Widening University Gap Due to Parental Economic Status... Education Inequality Must Be Addressed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] It has been revealed that children from high-income families have a higher proportion of admission to prestigious universities such as Seoul National University.

According to the '2020 University-specific National Scholarship Applicants Status' submitted by the Korea Student Aid Foundation to Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the National Assembly Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the proportion of children from high-income families among applicants to Seoul National University was 62.6%. The proportion of children from low-income families at the same university was 18.5%.

The proportion of children from high-income families among students at Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University was 56.6%, while the proportion of children from low-income families was 21.5%. Based on 15 universities in Seoul, the proportion of children from high-income families was 51.2%, and the proportion of children from low-income families was 23.9%. For all four-year universities, the proportion of children from high-income families was 39.5%, and the proportion of children from low-income families was 30.1%.

The office of Assemblyman Kang Deuk-gu explained, "Since 85% of university students apply for the national scholarship, it is the most reliable data to understand the economic background of university students."

Assemblyman Kang said, "The fact that disparities between universities are worsening due to differences in parents' economic power is a sad reflection of our university education." He added, "To resolve this educational inequality, we will actively promote legal amendments and institutional improvements to expand the selection of socially disadvantaged candidates, such as mandating at least 10% selection of socially disadvantaged candidates."

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