SKY (universities)

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Seoul South Korea location map.svg
Red pog.svg
SNU
Red pog.svg
KU
Locations of 'SKY' universities in Seoul, South Korea

SKY is an unofficial grouping and acronym for the three most prestigious and academically competitive universities located in Seoul, South Korea. It consists of Seoul National University , Korea University , and Yonsei University . [1] Students enrolled in Yonsei University prefers to call it as 'Seo-Yeon-Ko' (Korean: 서연고). [2]

Contents

The term is widely used in South Korea, both in the media and by the universities themselves. [3] [4] Being admitted to one of the SKY universities is frequently seen as important to one's career and social position in the country. [5] [6] The acronym also implies that the universities are extremely difficult to get into (i.e., students are reaching for the sky).

Members

InstitutionTypeLocationEstablishedAcademic staffUndergraduate enrollmentPostgraduate enrollmentRankings
QS World (2025) [7] ARWU World (2023) [8] THE World (2023) [9] THE Asia (2023) [10] QS Asia (2025) [11]
Seoul National University Public (National) Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 19462,278
(2022) [12]
15,870
(2022) [12]
12,394
(2022) [12]
3194561118
Korea University Private Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 19051,511
(2022) [13]
19,598
(2022) [13]
9,847
(2022) [13]
67201–300201–2502713
Yonsei University Private Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 18851,712
(2022) [14]
18,200
(2022) [14]
11,632
(2022) [14]
56201–30078139

History

Seoul National University

Korea University

Yonsei University

National recognition

In 2010, it was reported that 46.3% of high government officials and 50% of CEOs of major financial industries were graduates of SKY universities. [15] Also, over 60% of the students who passed the 2010 Korean Bar examination were graduates of SKY universities. [16] Being admitted in one of these universities typically requires students to be within the top 1% of the Korean College Scholastic Ability Test [ citation needed ].

Concerns

There have been a number of SKY university students who have dropped out of school to protest against South Korea's overheated academic elitism. [17]

See also

References

  1. "Asia Times Online :: Korea News and Korean Business and Economy, Pyongyang News". December 4, 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-12-04.
  2. 기자, 이강모 (2025-07-13). "'IN SEOUL' 서연고 검정고시 입학생 37% 증가". 전북일보 인터넷신문 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  3. Sang-Hun, Choe (2008-08-13). "A Taste of Failure Fuels an Appetite for Success at South Korea's Cram Schools". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  4. Online, Asia Time. "Asia Times Online :: Korea News and Korean Business and Economy, Pyongyang News". atimes.com. Archived from the original on 2005-12-04. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  5. "QS World University Rankings 2025". Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023". Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  7. "World University Rankings 2023". 12 October 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  8. "Asia University Rankings 2023". 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  9. "QS Asia University Rankings 2023". Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 "Facts". Seoul National University. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 "About KU". Korea University. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 "Yonsei at a Glance". Yonsei University. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  13. "금융권 CEO 출신대학..서울대>고려대>연세대 順". Naver News . Archived from the original on 2019-10-13. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  14. "사법시험 로스쿨 행외시 수험의 동반자". Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  15. Kim, Gyeong-su (2011-11-17). 명문대 줄잇는 ‘공개 자퇴’ 왜?. The Financial News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2011-11-20.

Further reading