Samsung, SK hynix-linked semiconductor majors more competitive than SNU admissions

People walk past the Samsung Electronics headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, May 22. Yonhap

University departments guaranteeing jobs at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix required more competitive admissions scores than Seoul National University's (SNU) natural sciences track this year — a notable milestone given that SNU, widely regarded as Korea's most prestigious university, has long set the benchmark for top admissions scores — reflecting surging student demand for chipmaker careers amid record bonus packages at the two companies.

According to an analysis released Sunday by Jongno Academy, a private university admissions prep institution, five semiconductor departments partnered with the two semiconductor giants averaged 96.2 in admission scores based on Korea's College Scholastic Ability Test, also known as Suneung, outpacing SNU's natural science track by 0.4 points.

The university-corporate partnership model, introduced in 2003, pairs companies with universities to shape curricula around industry needs. Companies support tuition costs, and most students are guaranteed jobs upon completing their degrees.

SK hynix has contracts with Hanyang University, Korea University and Sogang University, while Samsung Electronics has contracts with Sungkyunkwan University and Yonsei University.

A worker stands in front of the SK Hynix logo at the company's plant in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, April 23. Yonhap

Hanyang University's department of semiconductor engineering ranked highest with a score of 98, topping the average for regional medical schools at 97.2. Korea University followed at 97, Sungkyunkwan University at 96 and Sogang University and Yonsei University at 95 each.

The scores remain within striking distance of medical schools — long considered the most prestigious path for top-scoring students — where average admission scores this year were 99 in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province and 98.8 in Seoul.

The narrowing gap reflects surging demand for semiconductor careers, fueled by record bonus packages at both companies amid an artificial intelligence-driven chipmaking supercycle.

Under the tentative wage agreement reached last month between Samsung Electronics and its unions, 10.5 percent of the company's projected 300 trillion won ($195.6 billion) in operating profit this year will go to fund a special performance bonus pool. Employees in the memory chip division are estimated to receive up to 600 million won before tax this year, including existing payments for overall performance incentives.

Last year, SK hynix scrapped a 1,000 percent base salary bonus cap and tied bonuses to 10 percent of its operating profit. Earlier this year, SK employees received an average of 148 million won each, equivalent to 2,964 percent of base salary. Some projections put the figure at 600 million to 700 million won per person next year.

“When applicants gain admission to both a semiconductor contract department and a medical school, where they ultimately enroll will be closely watched,” said Im Seong-ho, head of Jongno Academy.