The surge follows the selection of these three regional national universities for the government's "Making 10 Seouls" initiative.
The institution received 32,137 applications for 3,354 available spots, resulting in a 9.58 to 1 competition ratio. This figure represents an 8.6% increase, or 2,541 more applicants, than the 2026 cycle's 29,596 applicants across 3,357 slots.
The numbers show a 5.1% increase, or 1,274 more applicants, compared to the 2026 cycle's 25,055 applicants for 3,977 spots.
Did You Know? Under the “Making 10 Seouls” initiative, the selected universities are slated to receive roughly 700억원 annually through 2030 to cultivate talent for local strategic industries.
Background on the “Making 10 Seouls” Policy
The "Making 10 Seouls" initiative operates as a key policy task under the government's education agenda. The government first stated its intent in April to select three out of the nine regional flagship institutions for priority support.
Admissions Server Outage and Deadline Extension
Admissions momentum hit a logistical snag on application deadline day when the “UwayApply” online portal suffered a server disruption. The Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) reported that the system glitch began at 5:50 p.m., preventing a portion of applicants from successfully submitting and paying for their applications.
In response to the technical failure, KCUE announced a one-hour extension for universities originally scheduled to close their application windows at 6:00 p.m., moving their deadlines to 7:00 p.m. Out of 182 institutions scheduled to close admissions on that day, 143 colleges had their deadlines extended by one hour. KCUE clarified that universities scheduled to close applications after 6:00 p.m. were not included in the extension.
For applicants who still failed to complete the process despite the one-hour extension, KCUE stated that students who managed to save their applications in the system and advanced to the payment screen will go through a verification process and individual relief procedures coordinated with the respective universities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total applicants applied to the three targeted universities for the 2027 early admissions cycle?
What financial backing do the selected universities receive through the government initiative?
The three universities receive roughly 700억원 annually through 2030 to foster talent tailored to regional strategic industries.
How did the online application system failure affect university deadlines?
The Korean Council for University Education extended the application deadline from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for 143 out of 182 universities that were slated to close their portals at 6:00 p.m. due to a server failure on the UwayApply platform.
How will applicants handle incomplete submissions caused by the server crash?
The Korean Council for University Education announced that students who saved their applications and reached the payment screen before the deadline will undergo verification and structured relief procedures in coordination with the respective universities.
How do application volumes compare between the 2026 and 2027 early admissions cycles at these institutions?
Total applicant volume increased by 10,414, or 11.6%, rising from 89,469 applicants in 2026 to 99,883 applicants in 2027 across the three specified universities.
How do shifts in regional university application numbers reflect broader student behavior patterns amidst recent policy changes?
Worth a look