AI's rise deters South Korean students from pursuing IT degrees

University admissions data released this week shows 27,266 students applied for computer science programs for the 2025 academic year, 2,229 less than last year, Chosun Biz reported.

This means 19.3 candidates applied for every place, a 1.3 percentage-point drop.

In the past computer science attracted top students, sometimes even more than for medical programs.

Traditionally, medical school places have been coveted in South Korea, with a career as a doctor seen as both lucrative and stable, according to Times Higher Education.

The top scorer in the 2024 college entrance exam chose Seoul National University's computer science degree over medical school.

But concerns over AI’s impact on the industry have dampened enthusiasm.

At a recent Council on Foreign Relations event, Dario Amodei, CEO of artificial intelligence startup Anthropic predicted that AI could generate 90% of code within six months and nearly all within a year.

The changing job market has further reduced confidence in computer science careers.

A survey by developer community OKKY found that 50% of 18 IT firms with over 100 employees have no plans to hire new staff.

Major South Korean tech firms like Naver, Kakao and Coupang, have reportedly slowed recruitment as they shift focus to AI-driven automation.

Despite the drop in demand for traditional software developers, experts believe specialists in AI management and optimization will remain in demand.

"Most corporations in Pangyo Techno Valley, the representative IT cluster in the country, are actively encouraging developers to use AI, and the demand for new developers has decreased," an IT industry official said. "However, the demand for advanced talent capable of effectively handling AI technology is likely to increase."