Over 10,700 Students Departed from South Korea's SKY Universities in Five Years
Data shows that more than 10,700 students left Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University between 2021 and 2025.
According to data from the Higher Education in Korea disclosure system, a total of 10,736 students exited Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University between 2021 and 2025. Each year the number of departures exceeded 2,000, with a high of 2,496 in 2024 and a decline to 2,012 in 2025. The figures encompass students who withdrew, failed to register or did not resume studies after a leave of absence, though the report does not explain why they left or their subsequent paths.
Korea University recorded the most exits in the latest year with 836, followed by Yonsei (801) and SNU (375). Natural sciences students made up the majority of departures, while humanities and arts/sports accounted for smaller shares. Specific departments with notable numbers included engineering at Yonsei and life sciences at Korea University.
Why it matters
The high attrition rate at South Korea's elite universities raises questions about student retention and future workforce composition.
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