(Picture=KIM Ho-yeon and his family. SNU admission officer visited Ho-yeon's home in rural area and offered a special admission to SNU for next spring semester.)
 
Kim Ho-yeon, 19, a high school senior in what was once a mining town in Hwasun County, South Jeolla, learned last Saturday that he has been admitted to Seoul National University. Kim’s mother, Yang Jeong-nim, 46, gave him a hug. His father, Kim Yong-gon, 50, smiled brightly even though his facial muscles were stiff due to a medical condition.

“I hope admissions officers give chances to more disadvantaged students like Ho-yeon,” said the father.

Admissions officers from Seoul National University had a special job to do this year. They traveled around the country, selecting 116 students for special admission rights reserved for students from low-income families or rural areas.

“With the gap in the level of academic achievement widening between students living in cities and rural towns, finding students with potential, like Ho-yeon, is a great success,” said senior admissions officer Kim Gyeong-beom.

Seoul National University last year invited Doris Davis, the chief admissions officer at Cornell University, to seek her advice on the training of admissions officers. Davis advised that such people personally visit even the remotest areas to find talented students.

Kim Ho-yeon sparked interest with his exceptionally high score on the College Scholastic Ability Test, with top marks in Korean, math, science and English. Admissions officers were especially impressed that such scores had been achieved by a student from a rural area, and decided to pay him a visit.

They arrived in Byeokna-ri, Hwasun County, on Dec. 5. The village was so remote that the road to it didn’t appear on the car’s GPS.

Kim was a prefect in the 600-student Neungju High School. He won a silver medal in a South Jeolla math competition as a freshman.

Eight years ago, Kim’s father was injured while he was working in a mine, and later developed liver cancer. Kim’s mother supports the entire family. Much of her income is used to pay for her husband’s medical bills.

Kim never took courses at private academies. “I studied alone most of the time and got some help from teachers when I had questions,” Kim said.

Ho-yeon will receive a four-year scholarship at the university. He has his sights set high. “My dream is to produce a Korean-made spaceship,” he said.

Feb. 3, 2009
SNU PR Office