Korea University’s (KU) Sejong Campus, under the guidance of Vice President Kim Young, has recently wrapped up its application cycle for the 2024 undergraduate admissions, unveiling an extraordinary level of competition characterized by an astonishing 8.71:1 applicant-to-seat ratio. Particularly noteworthy is the Pharmacy program, which, following an essay-based general admissions approach, reported an astounding 302.33:1 competition ratio. In a similar vein, the Division of Public Administration, employing a student record-based general admissions method, witnessed an intense competition ratio of 22.33:1. Furthermore, within the realm of International Sports Studies, where the Student Record Comprehensive Crimson Talent Admissions (SRCCTA) process is employed, applicants faced a formidable 21:1 ratio.

The enduring and ongoing debate regarding admission criteria has been a constant source of controversy, giving rise to divisions among Korean college students. Recognizing the sustained relevance of this issue, The Granite Tower (GT) featured it as the cover story in last May’s issue. More recently, GT has embarked on an investigative journey to delve into the recently rekindled tensions between KU’s main and branch campuses. In the forthcoming reportage, GT will examine how admission requirements not only affect the academic aspects but also significantly influence the social recognition of students, even within the confines of a single institution.