Historical Analysis of the Policy on the College Entrance System in South Korea

Abstract

The national college admission system has quite frequently been altered in South Korea since Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Nonetheless, there are still many ways in which the national college entrance system can be improved. This article initially analysed and synthesized the issues associated with the Korean college admission system that successive regimes had to tackle, the relevant policy alternatives, and the ensuing consequences of the policy alternatives instituted by different regimes. Based on the analysis, the persistent key issues embedded in major screening factors in the college admission system were determined. Through this analytical lens, this study intends to delineate some possible future directions for the improvement of the college admission system. In conclusion, the government would be well advised to make a continuous effort to complement and stabilize the existing system, regardless of changes in the regime. In addition, the historical analyses of the Korean college admission system will contribute to providing education policy makers in other countries with insights and vicarious experience for the reform of their college entrance systems.