Applications to South Korea’s four major science and technology institutes hit a five-year high this year, while interest in medical schools declined.

According to Jongro Academy’s analysis of 2026 college admissions data, the number of applicants to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology(KAIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology(GIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology(DGIST) and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST) rose 16-point-one percent from last year to 24-thousand-423.

DGIST saw the sharpest jump with a 23-point-four percent increase, followed by UNIST, GIST and KAIST.

Applicants per seat across the four schools also climbed—from 8-point-77 in 2022 to 14-point-14 this year—with DGIST recording the highest at 27-point-85.

In contrast, medical and pharmaceutical programs drew 21-point-nine percent fewer applicants, the lowest in five years, as government support for science fields and the boom in AI and semiconductor industries shifted student preferences.

KAIST professor Jung Jae-seung welcomed the trend, saying the school seeks “curious minds who enjoy solving tough problems for hours, not just top scorers.”