Changing Perspectives Among Students and Companies... The Fate of Popular Humanities Majors in Business, Economics, and Media Transformed

by Lee Kyungho

Published 09 Oct.2025 11:31(KST)

Assemblywoman Kang Kyungsook of the National Innovation Party Releases Ministry of Education Data
330 Humanities and Social Science Departments in Seoul Consolidated or Closed Over Four Years
Business Administration: 242 Departments, Economics: 63 Also Merged or Closed
Language and Literature?Symbol of the Humanities?Rapidly Declining: English, Korean, Chinese Most Affected

Yonhap News Agency

As science and engineering majors are increasingly favored by exam takers and in the job market, humanities and social sciences have been neglected, resulting in the consolidation or closure of more than 300 related departments at universities in Seoul over the past four years.

According to data received from the Ministry of Education by Assemblywoman Kang Kyungsook of the National Assembly's Education Committee on October 8, a total of 330 humanities and social science departments at universities in Seoul were consolidated or closed from 2022 to this year. By year, 87 departments were consolidated or closed in 2022, 53 in 2023, 90 in 2024, and 100 in 2025.

Among humanities and social science departments, business administration was the most frequently consolidated or closed. Although business administration is the most competitive major among humanities fields in terms of admissions results, a cumulative total of 242 business administration departments have either disappeared entirely or been merged with other departments as of this year. In addition, 63 economics-related departments were consolidated or closed. Other popular majors, such as journalism and media studies-considered the most competitive in social sciences-saw 71 departments consolidated or closed, followed by 52 in public administration, and 46 each in social welfare and education.

On June 5th, the Gangnam-gu Job Fair held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was bustling with job seekers. 2025.06.05 Photo by Yoon Dongju

The field of language and literature, one of the three pillars of the humanities along with history and philosophy, is also rapidly declining. English-related departments were the most affected, with 79 being consolidated or closed, followed by 54 Korean language departments, 50 Chinese, 49 Japanese, 19 German, and 17 French. In addition, 31 history departments and 24 philosophy departments were either eliminated or absorbed into other departments.

Assemblywoman Kang Kyungsook stated, "The ongoing consolidation and closure of basic academic fields, including humanities, is not just a short-term restructuring of departments but could also undermine future competitiveness. The government should expand its support to maintain a balanced academic ecosystem, and universities must devise their own measures, including strengthening basic liberal arts education."