Jee Seo-yul, a student at Chiak High School in Wonju, Gangwon Province, is drawing attention after simultaneously being accepted to five prestigious science and engineering universities in Korea, bucking the trend of top-scoring students flocking to medical schools.
According to the Gangwon Ilbo on the 18th, Jee won initial acceptance to all of the so-called "Seokapoyeongo" schools in this early admission round: Seoul National University (Department of Computer Science and Engineering), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST, School of Transdisciplinary Studies), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH, single track), Yonsei University (School of Advanced Computing), and Korea University (Department of Computer Science). After much deliberation, Jee completed registration for Seoul National University's Department of Computer Science and Engineering on the 16th.
Jee's path stands out for holding to personal convictions at a grade level where going to medical school is taken for granted. Jee never relinquished the top rank in the entire school throughout high school and, as student body president, reportedly led by example in school activities.
Jee was inspired to dream of becoming a computer engineering engineer thanks to an after-school activity in elementary school. Over three years of high school, Jee completed an artificial intelligence curriculum, devoted energy to making games, and focused on studies through self-directed learning centered on online lectures.
Regarding encouragement from those around to apply to medical school, Jee said, "I want to study more in the field I have wanted to pursue since I was young," adding, "My dream is to develop a game that earns recognition and to go on to establish a game company."