SKY (universities)

This article is about South Korean universities. For other uses of "SKY", see Sky (disambiguation).

SKY is an acronym for the three most prestigious universities in South Korea: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University.^[1] The term is widely used nationwide in Korea, in the Korean broadcast media and even by the universities themselves.^[2][3]

Regardless of the academic standing of the SKY universities internationally, inside Korea, admission to one of them is widely considered as determining one's career and social status.^[4][5] Many South Korean politicians and policy makers have a undergraduate degree from a SKY university.

Members

Institution	Founded	Athletic Nickname	Undergraduate enrollment	Postgraduate enrollment	Motto
Seoul National University	1946	Gwanak Cranes	16,006 (2008)[6]	10,559 (2008)[6]	Veritas lux mea The truth is my light 진리는 나의 빛
Korea University	1905	Anam Tigers	17,977 (2010)[7]	6,374 (2010)[7]	Libertas, Justitia, Veritas Freedom, Justice, Truth 자유, 정의, 진리
Yonsei University	1885	Sinchon Eagles	18,588 (2009)[8]	10,498 (2009)[8]	The truth will set you free (John 8:32) 진리가 너희를 자유케 하리라 (요한복음 8:32)

History

• 1885 April: Gwanghyewon founded. Yonsei insists that this hospital was the cornerstone of Severance Medical College.
• 1885 April: Gwanghyewon renamed Jejungwon
• 1904: Jejungwon Medical School renamed Severance Union Medical College
• --------------------the start of university age in Korea----------------------
• 1905 May: Bosung College founded by the Emperor of Korea. ( KOREA UNIVERSITY, the first university of Korea )
• 1915 March: Chosun Christian College founded by Western people , the real beginning of Yonsei University
• 1924: Headquarters and a preparatory departments of Keijō Imperial University was founded by Japan. This university is the main predecessor to Seoul National University.
• 1926: Three Departments(Law, Medical Sciences, and Human Sciences) of Keijō Imperial University was opened by Japan, this is the first modern university class in Korea. And This university is the only university in Korea at that time due to the suppression of Japan. Japan government did not approve of establishment of university except Keijō.
• 1946: Establishment as a university after independence; Establishment as a university;
• 1946 August : Bosung College renamed Korea University
• 1946 August: Yonhi College renamed Yonhi University
• 1946 August: Seoul National University founded by merging Japanese institutions - including Keijō Imperial University - of higher education around Seoul
• 1957 January: Severance Medical College and Hospital and Yonhi University merged into Yonsei University

Concerns

There has been SKY university students who dropped out to protest against South Korea's overheated academic elitism.^[9]

See also

• KU-Yonsei rivalry

References

1. ^ Asia Times Online :: Korea News and Korean Business and Economy, Pyongyang News
2. ^ [1], [2], [3], [4], [5],[6]
3. ^ [7], [8], [9], [10], [11] (articles in English)
4. ^ New York Times, "A Taste of Failure Fuels an Appetite for Success at South Korea’s Cram Schools" [12]
5. ^ *"Life and death exams in South Korea" by James Card, Asia Times Online, November 30, 2005, retrieved December 18, 2005.
6. ^ ^{a b} "Seoul National University Facts" (in Korean). Seoul National University. http://snu.ac.kr/about/ab0103.jsp. Retrieved August 22, 2008. 
7. ^ ^{a b} http://www.academyinfo.go.kr/schoolAction.do?process=schoolDisclose00&schoolCd=53018000&orgcode=1&sry_yy=2008&univ_gubun=U&estb=3&dKind=E
8. ^ ^{a b} http://www.academyinfo.go.kr/schoolAction.do?process=schoolDisclose00&schoolCd=53080000&orgcode=1&sry_yy=2008&univ_gubun=U&estb=3&dKind=E
9. ^ Kim (김), Gyeong-su (경수) (2011-11-17). "명문대 줄잇는 ‘공개 자퇴’ 왜？" (in Korean). 파이낸셜뉴스. http://www.fnnews.com/view?ra=Sent1501m_View&corp=fnnews&arcid=0922468861&cDateYear=2011&cDateMonth=11&cDateDay=17. Retrieved 2011-11-20. 

• Jambor, Paul Z. 'Why South Korean Universities Have Low International Rankings', Academic Leadership: Volume 7 - Issue 1, February 20, 2009
• Jambor, Paul Z. 'Why South Korean Universities Have Low International Rankings - Part II: The Student Side of the Equation', Academic Leadership: Volume 7 - Issue 3, August 10, 2009
• "Students Hold Anti-Exam Festival" by Park Chung-a, The Korea Times, November 24, 2005, retrieved December 18, 2005.