New early admission limits

From next year, students will be restricted to six early admission applications to colleges.

There hasn’t been a limit in the past, and there were complaints from students, parents and teachers that it caused too much work.

The Korean Council for University Education announced yesterday that it decided to limit the number of applications for early admission starting with the 2013 academic year. Those applications go out as early as next July.

“There have been requests from numerous groups, including parents’ organizations and teachers’ associations, to limit the number of applications, which have been excessively high,” the KCUE said. “We have decided to limit the number to six.”

According to the KCUE, the restriction will help students who apply to dozens of schools regardless of their aptitude or planned career path and reduce the amount of application fees paid by their parents.

Teachers won’t have to write as many recommendation letters.

Several students were reported to have applied to more than 30 universities across the country during this year’s early admission period.

The KCUE said it will revise the Basic Regulations for 2013 College Admission System, which it announced in July.

However, colleges outside metropolitan areas are opposing the limits, saying the new policy will force students to focus on colleges in Seoul and nearby cities, making it difficult for them to attract applications. Some parents’ groups criticized the restriction as limiting their children’s choices.

The KCUE also faces a legal barrier.Under the country’s Higher Education Act, changes to the Basic Regulations should be announced 18 months before they affect students in order to prevent confusion. If colleges or parents file a lawsuit, the issue could get bogged down in court.

“We don’t think it will cause problems as we have gotten legal advice.” the KCUE said, “That said, there won’t be a big issue constitutionally.”

By Yim Seung-hye [sharon@joongang.co.kr]