Gangwon Hongcheon Girls' High School has drawn major attention in the local community by producing its first successful applicant to the pre-medical program at Seoul National University in the 69 years since its opening.
According to the Gangwon Ilbo on the 15th, Hwang Uijin, a third-year student at Hongcheon Girls' High School, was admitted not only to Seoul National University but also to the pre-medical programs at Yonsei University and Korea University through early admissions, achieving the feat of being a "triple crown in medical school admissions."
Hwang, a native of Hongcheon, attended Namsan Elementary School and Hongcheon Girls' Middle School before entering Hongcheon Girls' High School. Hwang used the rural/remote area admissions track to reach the goal. The key to success in choosing a local general high school over a specialized or autonomous private high school was regular classes at school.
Hwang said, "Because teachers ultimately write the questions for internal grade evaluations, I tried not to miss even a single joke during class," and added, "I got plenty of sleep, and I listened with the mindset of reviewing during class material that I had covered one or two semesters ahead."
A home environment that allowed full focus on studies also provided strong support. Hwang's parents, who run a private academy, made the house feel like a library, creating an atmosphere where their daughter could naturally grow close to books.
Having never let go of the top spot in the entire school throughout middle school, Hwang decided on a career path after watching the drama "Hospital Playlist" in the third year of middle school and feeling attracted to the profession of physician.
Hwang said, "I recalled the phrase that careful preparation lets excitement outweigh fear, forgot about the limits of the region, and focused only on what I could do," and added, "In the digital age, I want to share that you can achieve your dreams even in a small provincial city."