A math prodigy has been admitted to Seoul National University at the youngest age ever, 15 years and three months.

Lee Su-hong, a sophomore at Choong Ang High School in Seoul, passed the exam for the mathematical science department.

Born in August 1993, he became the youngest student to enter the school, followed by Han Hye-min who was admitted in 2001 at the age of 15 years and 11 months.

Lee entered Seoul National University of Education's education center for gifted children when he was a fourth grader. He finished elementary school in six years as ordinary students do, but completed middle and high school courses in one and two years, respectively.

He has enjoyed reading books about deciphering since just nine years old, both in Korean and English, according to his parents. Lee was good at playing the piano as well, with people saying when he was 10 that his piano skills were as good as that of college students majoring in music.

Lee has won numerous awards in mathematics, both domestic and international.

His parents decided not to send him to an overseas university as they thought he was too young to go alone. Lee said he wants to study math at SNU and then advance to graduate school at a foreign university in a new field.

November 24, 2008
SNU PR Office