SKY is an unofficial grouping and acronym for the three most prestigious and academically competitive universities located in Seoul, South Korea. It includes: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University.[1] SKY is essentially the Korean equivalent of HYP in the Ivy League.
The term is widely used in South Korea, both in the media and by the universities themselves.[2][3] Being admitted to one of the SKY universities is frequently seen as important to one's career and social position in the country. [4][5] The acronym also implies that the universities are extremely difficult to get into. (i.e., students are reaching for the Sky)
Institution | Type | Location | Established | Academic staff | Undergraduate enrollment | Postgraduate enrollment | Rankings | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QS World (2024)[6] | ARWU World (2023)[7] | THE World (2023)[8] | THE Asia (2023)[9] | QS Asia (2023)[10] | |||||||
Seoul National University | Public (National) | Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul | 1946 | 2,278 (2022)[11] |
15,870 (2022)[11] |
12,394 (2022)[11] |
41 | 94 | 56 | 11 | 17 |
Korea University | Private | Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul | 1905 | 1,511 (2022)[12] |
19,598 (2022)[12] |
9,847 (2022)[12] |
79 | 201–300 | 201–250 | 27 | 15 |
Yonsei University | Private | Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul | 1885 | 1,712 (2022)[13] |
18,200 (2022)[13] |
11,632 (2022)[13] |
76 | 201–300 | 78 | 13 | 12 |
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.[14] Also, over 60% of the students who passed the 2010 Korean Bar examination were graduates of SKY universities.[15] 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].
There have been a number of SKY university students who have dropped out of school to protest against South Korea's overheated academic elitism.[16]