YU Establishes Itself as a University Chosen by Outstanding Students and Trusted by Parents

“Bold Innovation” Yields Results … Large Influx of Outstanding Students and Growing Trust from Students and Parents

2026 Regular Admissions Competition Rate Reaches Record High of 5.97 to 1; Early Admissions Enrollment Rate Also Hits 99%

Nation’s No.1 Scholarship Fund (KRW 86.5 Billion) and Large-Scale National Projects (RISE and Others) Provide Strong Support for Students

Global University Evaluation (Leiden Ranking) Top 5 Nationwide for Two Consecutive Years; No.1 Nationwide in Newly Appointed Prosecutors Demonstrates Top-Level Competitiveness

[March 4, 2026]

 Yeungnam University (YU, President CHOI Oe-chool) has achieved another milestone by maintaining a 100% freshman enrollment rate (based on the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Disclosure quota standard) for the second consecutive year in the 2026 academic year. The total freshman quota was 4,620 students. This follows last year’s achievement of a 100% enrollment rate for the first time in 17 years. Despite the challenging admissions environment marked by a rapidly declining school-age population and intensifying concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area, YU recorded an early admissions enrollment rate of 99% for the 2026 academic year. In the regular admissions round, the University also attracted strong attention by recording a record-high competition rate of 5.97 to 1. 

 Notably, in this year’s university admissions cycle, YU succeeded in achieving both quantitative and qualitative growth.Along with the second consecutive year of 100% freshman enrollment, it was confirmed that the academic performance of newly admitted students improved in 60 academic departments compared to the previous year.This once again demonstrates that YU’s bold institutional innovation has earned strong trust from prospective students and their parents.

Remarkable Achievements Driven by Bold University Innovation and the Dedication of Its Members

 These impressive admissions outcomes are the result of the University’s innovation strategies entering a new phase of development under President CHOI Oe-chool’s second term. The achievements were made possible through the dedication of all members of the University, including faculty members who devoted themselves to research and education while pursuing comprehensive educational innovation with clear goals, and administrative staff who worked tirelessly to support these efforts. Such sincere efforts grounded in a “students-first philosophy” resonated deeply with prospective students and parents, ultimately becoming a decisive factor in their choice of YU.

Nation’s Highest-Level Scholarship Fund of KRW 86.5 Billion and “Student-Centered” Financial Investment

 One of YU’s core competitive strengths lies in its unwavering investment in students. The University’s total scholarship fund amounts to approximately KRW 86.5 billion, ranking No.1 nationwide (based on the 2025 Higher Education Disclosure data). This translates into an average annual scholarship benefit of about KRW 4.4 million per student. In addition, YU secured KRW 85.7 billion in funding through the 2025 Gyeongsangbuk-do RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) Project. The University has also been selected for major national strategic initiatives, including the Semiconductor Specialized University Program and the Convergence Physician-Scientist Training Program. These substantial financial resources are fully invested in student education and capability development, serving as a strong foundation for nurturing and maximizing the potential of young talents.

Globally Recognized Research Excellence and Rising University Reputation

 Bold financial support and strategic investment have translated into remarkable achievements in various university evaluations and graduate outcomes.In the 2025 Leiden Ranking, YU ranked Top 5 nationwide for the second consecutive year and No.1 among private universities outside the Seoul metropolitan area. The University has also produced four Highly Cited Researchers (HCR) and achieved global recognition through faculty-founded startup HUMANICS, which won the Innovation Award at the CES in the United States for two consecutive years, demonstrating world-class competitiveness beyond academia. Furthermore, in the 2025 national selection examination for new prosecutors, YU produced 10 successful candidates, ranking No.1 nationwide. In total, the University produced 23 public legal professionals, setting an all-time record for the institution.

Outstanding Achievements in International Development Cooperation and Social Responsibility … Inducted into the “Porter Prize Hall of Fame”

YU has also distinguished itself in the fields of international development cooperation and social responsibility, leading efforts to create social value through higher education. Notably, the University achieved the remarkable distinction of being inducted into the “Hall of Fame” of the Porter Prize for Excellence in CSV·ESG, after receiving the award for three consecutive years. These achievements were highly recognized for YU’s efforts to academically systematize Saemaul Studies, rooted in the Saemaul Movement that played a pivotal role in Korea’s rapid national development, and to advance sustainable development policies. Based on these academic foundations, the University has successfully nurtured more than 1,000 global leaders from 77 countries, who are expected to contribute to the development of their respective nations.

YU Establishes Itself as a University Chosen by Outstanding Students and Recommended by Parents

 President CHOI Oe-chool of YU expressed his gratitude, stating: “The remarkable achievements of maintaining a 100% freshman enrollment rate for two consecutive years and improving academic performance across 60 departments are the result of the dedicated efforts of all faculty and staff who have devoted themselves to nurturing the competencies that today’s generation requires.” He continued, “The differentiated educational competitiveness created through the dedication of our University members has earned deep trust from prospective students and their parents, and I believe it played a crucial role in their final decision to choose YU.” He also emphasized, “In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where artificial intelligence and robotics technologies are rapidly advancing, technological capability is important, but society urgently needs ‘warm-hearted professionals’ with altruistic leadership.” Based on this educational philosophy, he added that the University will devote all its capabilities to nurturing students into global leaders who elevate the dignity of Korea and contribute to the advancement of human society. President CHOI further stated, “With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), the era defined by academic pedigree is fading, giving way to an age of unlimited competition based on real competence. YU will wholeheartedly support its students so that they can fully develop their potential on campus and grow into creators of a new era.”