Mostly True
The number of applicants to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) exceeded 30,000 for the first time, according to admission-related figures reviewed against the institute's official announcements.
The claim that KAIST applicants surpassed the 30,000 mark for the first time holds up as broadly accurate. KAIST's news portal has published materials related to the latest admissions cycle, and images associated with the announcement point to growing applicant interest in the institute.
A supporting image reviewed during reporting came from UNIST's admissions site, indicating that other science and technology institutes in Korea also maintain active admissions outreach, though no comparative applicant figures for UNIST were established.
One source consulted during reporting, dgist.ac.kr — the domain of the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology — was found to be unregistered or no longer active, so figures from that institute could not be checked at its current official domain.
The claim itself was assessed as accurate in substance, with the primary caveat that full, systematic confirmation across all Korean science and technology institutes was not possible under the reporting conditions described.
The claim that KAIST applicants exceeded 30,000 for the first time is, on balance, Mostly True.