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]
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Locations of 'SKY' universities in Seoul, South Korea
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).
More information Institution, Type ...
Institution |
Type |
Location |
Established |
Academic staff |
Undergraduate enrollment |
Postgraduate enrollment |
Rankings |
QS World (2025)[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] |
31 |
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] |
67 |
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] |
56 |
201–300 |
78 |
13 |
12 |
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Seoul National University
- 1895: Former Institute of Seoul National University College of Law was established.
- 1924: Headquarters and preparatory departments of Keijō Imperial University was founded by Japan. This university is the main predecessor to Seoul National University.
- 1926: Three departments (namely the departments of Law, Medical Sciences, and Human Sciences) of Keijō Imperial University were opened by Japan. These were the first official higher education institution during the colonial period. This university was the only university in Korea at the time due to oppression by Japan. The Japanese government did not approve the establishment of any university except Keijō Imperial University.
- 1946 August: Seoul National University founded by merging several Japanese institutions of higher education around Seoul, including Keijō Imperial University
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]
- SKY Castle, a 2018–2019 JTBC Friday-Saturday prime time drama, explores the employment of coordinators by parents who wish their children to enter one of the three colleges, which sometimes does not come without consequences.
- Korea University–Yonsei University rivalry
- Oxbridge, referring to the UK's oldest universities, Oxford and Cambridge
- Golden triangle, informal grouping of universities in London and southeast England
- Russell Group, a self-selected association of twenty-four public research universities in the United Kingdom
- Ivy League, formal grouping of elite older private universities in the United States
- Big Three, informal term grouping Harvard, Yale, and Princeton
- Big Four, informal term grouping the four most prestigious universities in the Philippines
- TU9, alliance of nine leading Technical Universities in Germany
- Group of Eight, a group of Australia's top research universities
- National Institutes of Technology, 31 leading public engineering universities in India
- Imperial Universities, grouping of elite older universities in Japan
- Double First-Class Construction, funding schemes for universities in China
New York Times, "A Taste of Failure Fuels an Appetite for Success at South Korea’s Cram Schools" Archived 2020-11-15 at the Wayback Machine "Facts". Seoul National University. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- 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
- Park, Chung-a, "Students Hold Anti-Exam Festival", The Korea Times, November 24, 2005, retrieved December 18, 2005