Koreans have always been cautious about sending their kids to elite universities, which is more evident because such select tags bring them much-needed prestige. The Korean education system is both famous and infamous for its harsh grinding and the constant pressure on the aspirants every year for their CSAT. The same goes for our beloved celebrities who got no escape from the loop. Despite their massive fame in their respective fields, Korean and international netizens still dig up their educational qualifications and academic achievements. Below are the top 10 Korean entertainment celebrities who went to Elite Universities, never stopping to surprise us with their glory.
10. Shin Min A
Number 10 on the elite celebrity academicians is ruled by Shin Min-a, another Dongguk University alumni. She graduated with a degree in Performing Arts. However, not much has been known about her academic life. Don’t forget to watch her latest, Our Blues, where she has amazed everyone with her comeback after a long career break.
9. Park Min Young
Whether Kim Mi-so from What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim or Jin Ha-kyung from Forecasting Love and Weather, Park Min-young has lived up to her academic life just like her drama roles. In 2013, Park graduated with a degree in Theatre from Dongguk University, a Buddhism based university. You will even see her in pictures adorned in her graduation cap and gown with a glowing smile.
8. Cha Eun Woo
Astro’s visual and vocalist and K-drama’s Lee Su-ho, Cha Eun-woo, has proven his skills in the entertainment industry and academics. Cha Eun-woo, too, attended Sungkyunkwan University to major in Performing Arts. The 25 years old Idol and actors used to be a model student. He constantly showed his leadership skills throughout his education and was even the student body president in his high school. Quite similar to what we have seen in True Beauty. It comes as no surprise that the Webtoon role suited him well.
7. Gong Yoo
Our very own Goblin, Gong Yoo, graduated from the famous Kyung Hee University with a degree in Theatre and Film. No wonder how he has acquired such lifetime acting skills. Not much has been known about his life as a student due to his safe-guarded privacy. Although, it has been known that most of his primary and secondary education was done in Busan, his hometown.
6. Hyun Bin
Before anything, congratulations to the newlywed and would-be-dad Hyun Bin. He never failed to impress us with his looks, acting, and academics. Bin went to Chung-Ang University, where he majored in Theatre and Film in 2004. He went to the same university in 2009 to continue his master’s degree. This highly-paid actor’s childhood friend also informed during one of the interviews that he was quite famous during his student years and had a lot of female fans. He didn’t use his celebrity privilege, but his grades were enough to get him a regular admission.
5. Song Joong Ki
K-drama sensation and every drama addict’s top celeb, Song Joong-ki, graduated from Sungkyunkwan University, where he majored in business administration. It has been heard that he was a model student and impressed the faculty with his grades. He was also the brand representative of the university and quite famous among his peers for his great looks. No wonder he’s still sensational among the K-drama “addicts.”
4. Park Jin-Young
You might or might not be a fan of J.y Park, but you can’t deny the spell he has on the K-Pop industry. J.y Park, or Park Jin-young, the founder of JYP Entertainment, went to Yonsei University. He graduated from Yonsei in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Geology, which is quite in contrast to the field he is in now.
3. Bong Joon Ho
Bong Joon-ho, the mastermind behind Parasite's Oscar-winning movie, went to another SKY university, i.e., Yonsei University. He enrolled in 1988 in Bachelors in Sociology, which tells how he created such an aesthetic visual piece. Yonsei University is also one of the prime locations for K-dramas. If you are deep into Korean dramas or even watched True Beauty, Extraordinary You, or Reply 1994, you must have come across the gorgeous greenery of the elite institute.
2. Bang Si Hyuk
If you still don’t know who Bang Si-hyuk is, you probably live under a rock. Bang Si-hyuk, famously known as Hitman Bang or Bang PD-nim, is the founder of Big Hit Music and Hybe Corporation's entertainment home to BTS, TXT, and Enhyphen. Bang PD-nim graduated from Seoul National University, the most elite university in the country and the institution for the 1% of brilliant academics. He graduated with a Bachelor’ of Arts in Aesthetics. He was equally interested in music and kept composing during his free hours.
1. Taecyeon
JYP Entertainment’s 2 PM member and everyone’s favourite K-Drama villain (if you have watched Vincenzo, he must have caught your attention). Ok Taecyeon attended Korea University, one of the prestigious Korean universities and one of the SKY universities in Seoul. He graduated from the Graduate School of International Studies after studying Business Administration at Dankook University. In 2013, JYP Entertainment’s representative informed the fans that SKY university’s Graduate School selected Ok Taec-yeon after months of preparations for the entrance examination.
