8.5% of Graduates from 7 Gifted and Science High Schools Over 3 Years Enter Medical Fields

Seoul Science High School: 1 in 4 Students Enter Medical Fields
Korea Science Academy of KAIST Has 0 Due to 'Graduation Deferral' Measure

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] It has been revealed that 8.5% of graduates from seven science high schools and gifted schools over the past three years have entered medical-related fields.

On the 15th, Representative Kang Deuk-gu of the National Assembly's Education Committee and the organization Education Concern-Free Society analyzed data on applications and admissions to medical-related fields (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, Korean medicine) over the past three years at eight gifted schools nationwide. The analysis showed that 178 students (8.5%) from seven schools entered medical-related fields. The total number of applicants was 270, accounting for 12.9%.

The school with the highest number of medical-related admissions was Seoul Science High School (88 out of 371 students, 23.7%), where one in four students entered a medical-related major over three years. This was followed by Gyeonggi Science High School (34 out of 373, 9.1%), Daejeon Science High School (18 out of 281, 6.4%), Daegu Science High School (14 out of 282, 4.9%), Sejong Science and Arts Gifted School (10 out of 282, 3.5%), Gwangju Science High School (8 out of 291, 2.7%), and Incheon Science and Arts Gifted School (6 out of 217, 2.7%). Korea Science Academy of KAIST had no cases of application or admission to medical-related fields in the past three years.

In the case of Seoul Science High School, despite the school imposing measures such as reclaiming tuition and scholarships for students entering medical-related fields, there has been no improvement. Although the admission of gifted school graduates to medical fields has become a social issue, the number of students entering medical-related fields has actually increased at Gyeonggi Science High School. Korea Science Academy of KAIST, which had no applicants or admissions to medical-related fields, has enforced strong sanctions since the 2013 academic year, including deferring graduation for those who apply to medical-related fields.

The number of applicants to medical-related fields at the seven schools was 270, which is 92 more than the number of admitted students. In particular, Seoul Science High School (117 out of 371, 31.5%) recorded that three out of ten students applied to medical-related fields. This was followed by Gyeonggi Science High School (65 out of 373, 17.4%), Daegu Science High School (32 out of 282, 11.3%), Daejeon Science High School (18 out of 281, 6.4%), Incheon Science and Arts Gifted School (12 out of 217, 5.5%), Sejong Science and Arts Gifted School (13 out of 282, 4.6%), and Gwangju Science High School (13 out of 291, 4.5%).

Although gifted schools imposed sanctions on students wishing to enter medical-related fields, these measures have not been very effective. Seoul Science High School, which has the highest number of medical-related admissions and applications, has applied such sanctions since the 2020 academic year. Although gifted schools have specified disadvantages in their admission guidelines and even obtained consent forms during document submission since the 2022 academic year, it remains uncertain whether these measures will be effective, judging from the case of Seoul Science High School.

Representative Kang Deuk-gu stated, "If other gifted schools take strong measures like Korea Science Academy of KAIST, such as deferring graduation for applicants to medical-related fields, it will be possible to prevent gifted school graduates from entering medical schools and provide education aligned with the founding purpose." He added, "The Ministry of Education and gifted schools must not only provide education consistent with their founding goal of nurturing talent in science and engineering but also ensure that public funds are used for their original public interest purposes."

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