[News Space=Reporter seungwon lee] Yoo Ha-jin (19), a third-year student at Byeongjeom High School in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, was accepted to Hanyang University School of Medicine, Kyunghee University School of Oriental Medicine, Chung-Ang University School of Pharmacy, and Seoul National University Department of Korean Language Education in the 2026 regular admissions process. However, contrary to expectations, he ultimately chose Seoul National University College of Education to pursue his long-time dream of becoming a teacher.

The decision of Yu, nicknamed the "Medical Triple Crown," reflects his high school career, where he consistently ranked first in his class throughout his three years and demonstrated diverse academic potential. With four students from Byeongjeom High School's debate class having been accepted to Seoul National University, Yu's case is a symbolic example of the school's debate-focused curriculum.

The background of the rare 'Medical Triple Pass'

Yoo Ha-jin made headlines by simultaneously being accepted to three high-difficulty medical schools—medical school, Korean medicine school, and pharmacy school—through the rolling admissions process. The 2026 school year saw fierce competition, with the average ratio for medical school being 25.28 to 1, pharmacy school 34.83 to 1, and Korean medicine school 18.62 to 1. Despite this, Yoo achieved acceptance despite not having any medical-related activities on his resume, having taken science courses like physics, chemistry, and earth science since his second year of high school. This success stemmed from a strategy of emphasizing his overall potential rather than focusing on specific areas, and following his parents' advice, he was able to explore a variety of options.

The path to becoming a teacher I've dreamed of since elementary school

Yoo's dream of becoming a teacher began in elementary school, and he clearly listed "education" as his desired career path on his first-year high school transcript, and "Korean language teacher" as his second. His third-year class president, Jeong Mi-ra, encouraged him, saying, "He was proactive in both his studies and his activities, and he was top of the class all three years, but he chose a path that suited his aptitude."

"I was interested in science subjects, but teaching and explaining are more suited to me," said Yu, expressing his ambition to become a teacher who can help students find their own path, influenced by many teachers.

Debate Club: A Cradle of Leadership and Inquiry

After participating in a debate club during his first year at Byeongjeom High School, Yu developed his leadership skills by forming and running a club with his friends. He naturally explored interdisciplinary connections through discussion topic selection and book reading. The fact that four alumni of this debate club were accepted to Seoul National University through the regular admissions process is noteworthy for a general high school. The percentage of regular high school students accepted to Seoul National University through the regular admissions process for 2026 remains at around half, at 48.0-49.8%. Byeongjeom High School's recent Seoul National University acceptance rate remains stable, with an average of seven students accepted annually (including one through the regular admissions process).

A future vision that even dreams of education policy

Yu has ambitious plans to ultimately lead policy discussions as a superintendent or minister of education. This vision supports the educational philosophy and leadership potential demanded by the Department of Korean Education at Seoul National University's College of Education, and reflects an era where, even amidst the fierce competition for medical and pharmaceutical entrance exams, dreams can be prioritized.

Although it is rare for a student from a general high school like Byeongjeom High School to choose a SKY teacher training college, this is in line with the trend of student-led career decision-making being emphasized due to the expansion of the rolling admissions system (80.3% nationwide).