Gangwon Office of Education Releases 2026 University Admissions Analysis... Marked Balanced Growth in General High Schools

Increase in Enrollment at Provincial and Metropolitan Universities
Strengthening Competitiveness of General High Schools

The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education announced the results of its university admissions analysis for the 2026 academic year on March 19. This analysis was conducted based on the final enrollment results following the close of additional admissions registration on February 28.

A view of Gangwon Provincial Office of Education.

The analysis covered 89 high schools, including 84 general high schools, 1 autonomous private high school, and 4 special-purpose high schools, based on the schools where students ultimately registered. A total of 10,890 current students applied for university admissions in the 2026 academic year, an increase of 1,125 from the previous year's 9,765 applicants.

Regarding major university admissions, 4,142 students enrolled in nine four-year universities within the province, including 1,032 at Kangwon National University (Chuncheon), marking an increase of 581 students compared to the previous year. Of the current students, 38.0% advanced to universities within the province.

Including 1,106 students admitted to 27 major universities in the Seoul metropolitan area such as Seoul National University, a total of 1,824 students enrolled in universities located in the metropolitan area, an increase of 178 from the previous year. The admission rate to these universities was 16.7%.

In the medical and pharmaceutical fields, a total of 87 students enrolled in medical colleges—including 56 in medical schools—as well as in dental, oriental medicine, and pharmacy colleges. Admissions to medical and pharmaceutical-related universities have steadily increased over the past five years.

As for special-purpose universities, 57 students were admitted, including 49 to science and engineering-focused universities such as KAIST, POSTECH, and Korea Institute of Energy Technology, and 8 to military academies (Korea Military Academy, Korea Naval Academy, Korea Air Force Academy, and Korea Armed Forces Nursing Academy).

Of the 10,890 current students, 8,625 enrolled in universities, resulting in an enrollment rate of 79.2%. By institution, 7,645 students (70.2%) enrolled in four-year universities, and 980 students (9.0%) entered junior colleges. Additionally, among the 7,645 students admitted to four-year universities, 95.4% were admitted through the early admissions process, while 4.6% were admitted through the regular admissions process.

The Provincial Office of Education highlighted the balanced growth of general high schools as the most significant achievement in these results.

The proportion of general high school students among those admitted to Seoul National University via early admissions reached 60.5%, the highest since 2020. This demonstrates a shift in the top-tier landscape from being centered on autonomous private and special-purpose high schools to being centered on general high schools.

A total of 56 students gained admission to medical schools, with successful candidates coming from a variety of general high schools across the province rather than being concentrated in specific cities or counties, confirming the balanced growth of education in Gangwon. Furthermore, these results indicate that, even if the local physician system is implemented in the future, general high schools in the province are laying the foundation for nurturing outstanding medical talent.

Including 1,235 at Kangwon National University, a total of 4,142 students enrolled in the province's nine four-year universities, an increase of 581 from the previous year, while the number of students admitted to metropolitan universities also rose by 178 to 1,824.

The Provincial Office of Education attributed these achievements to the organic integration of its core academic policies implemented thus far.

By fostering a self-directed learning culture through the "School Culture of Independent Study" initiative, the office strengthened students' practical academic competitiveness. The operation of regional boarding high schools provided a highly immersive learning environment regardless of local conditions, helping to reduce educational disparities and support the growth of students' learning capabilities.

The data-driven customized admission strategies of the Gangwon College Admission Support Center and the development and distribution of Gangwon-style CSAT-type assessment questions have provided students with a strong foundation to effectively respond to the changing university admissions environment.

Kim Seongrae, Director of Secondary Education, stated, "It is very encouraging to see academic policies leading to tangible results," adding, "Since the 2027 academic year will be a period of major changes in university admissions as it marks the last cohort under the 2015 curriculum and a transitional phase before the introduction of the 2022 revised curriculum, we will minimize confusion in the field and continue to achieve admission results through tailored student support and thorough admissions analysis."

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