Early-admission applications closed on September 11, and universities are now running interviews, essay exams and document reviews. The questions that come up most at this point are "If I'm accepted in early admission but don't register, can I still apply in regular admission?" and "What happens if I miss a waitlist call?" The rule is that an early-admission acceptee is treated as accepted regardless of whether they register, and cannot apply in regular admission, and a candidate given a waitlist rank cannot give that rank up. This article sets out the dates and rules from acceptance to the waitlist deadline, based on the Korean Council for University Education's Basic Matters for the 2027 Admissions Plan.

Acceptances are announced by December 18, and waitlist registration closes at 10 p.m. on December 30

The university-run screening period for early admission runs from September 12 to December 17 (97 days). Results are announced by Friday, December 18, and registration is three days, Monday December 21 to Wednesday December 23. Waitlist acceptance notices run six days, Thursday December 24 to Tuesday December 29, and waitlist-accepted candidates must register by 10 p.m. on Wednesday, December 30. CSAT scores are released on Friday, December 11, so candidates who sit university-run exams after the CSAT have a tight stretch between score release and results.

Even if you do not register, an early-admission acceptee cannot apply in regular admission

The Basic Matters state that early-admission acceptees (initial and waitlist) "are treated as accepted regardless of their intention to register and cannot apply to regular admission or additional admission." The idea that you can be accepted and simply not register to keep regular admission open is wrong. Application limits and the binding effect are covered separately in our article on six early and three regular applications.

If you are given a waitlist rank, you cannot give up the rank or the application

A candidate given a waitlist rank in early admission cannot give up that rank or the fact of having applied. A waitlist number does not mean you can wind down other applications; it means you must stay reachable throughout the waitlist period. Waitlist offers must follow the ranking the university fixed in advance, and skipping the order is not allowed.

Register at one university only; the deposit is capped at 10% of the total payment

Early-admission acceptees may register only within the registration period, and even if accepted by several universities must register at only one. Registration here means a document registration or having paid a registration deposit. Document registration is the rule, and the registration-confirmation deposit that a university may collect to ease the burden is within 10% of the total payment. Anyone who registers at several universities is treated as violating the admissions rules and the acceptance can be cancelled; the Council notifies universities of the violators' names, and the universities must cancel their admission.

Waitlist notices run until 6 p.m.; website announcements stop at 2 p.m.

From December 24 to 29, waitlist notices are issued each day until 6 p.m. Postings on the university website must stop at 2 p.m., and from 2 to 6 p.m. only individual notices are allowed. When acceptees are posted on a website, the admissions guide must tell candidates that they have a duty to check their own results. If the university notifies by phone, it must keep evidence of the contact (such as a call recording), and it must announce in advance how it will handle candidates it cannot reach (for example, after three calls without an answer). Policies differ by university, so check the admissions guide of each school you applied to.

If you already registered and are then accepted from another waitlist

The rule is to clearly tell the first university you are withdrawing your registration and then register at the university that accepted you from its waitlist. If you receive a waitlist offer from a university you do not want to attend, you must tell that university immediately that you are giving up. The reason is not to block the next candidate's chance. If you leave yourself registered at two places without telling anyone, you can be caught as a double registration. What to do if the major does not fit after you register is covered in our article on how admission does not lock your major.

Seats left over from early admission move to regular admission

Vacancies left by shortfalls or non-registration in early admission may be carried over and filled in the next admission round, regular admission. Carrying seats between different tracks within the same round is not allowed. The regular admission schedule is application January 4 to 7 (at least three days), results by February 5, registration February 10 to 12, and waitlist registration deadline at 10 p.m. on February 18. Someone accepted and registered in regular admission cannot apply to additional admission, and only those who give up regular registration by 4 p.m. on the waitlist deadline day can apply. Regular-round waitlist calls are covered in our article on regular-admission waitlist calls.

Summary in order

(1) Mark results by December 18, registration December 21 to 23, waitlist notices December 24 to 29 and the 10 p.m. December 30 deadline on your calendar. (2) If accepted in early admission, regular admission is closed to you whether or not you register. (3) With a waitlist rank you cannot give it up, so stay reachable during the waitlist period. (4) Register at one university only; if you were accepted elsewhere, tell the first one you are withdrawing. This article is a general explanation of the Council's basic matters and does not replace individual university admissions guides or advice on your own situation. Check the notices of the admissions office of the universities you applied to first.