The information was shared by Park Sun-young, chair of the new Truth and Reconciliation Commission, on Facebook. According to her, Lim, Ms. Lee's son, reportedly missed only one question on this year's Suneung exam.

This is Korea's most important exam, with over 550,000 candidates participating. According to the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, only 5 candidates achieved a perfect score this year due to the increased difficulty of the Korean language and English sections.

Lim is the nephew of current Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Unlike many children of chaebol families who often study abroad early, Lim completed all his primary and secondary education in Korea.

The student previously attended Gyeonggi Elementary School and Whimoon Middle School, graduating second in his class. In high school, Lim studied at Whimoon High School and consistently maintained the top position.

Experts believe that with this score, Lim is almost certainly guaranteed admission to the Business Administration program at Seoul National University (SNU).

Lim as a child. Photo: The Korea Herald

News about Lim quickly spread across social media, drawing attention from Korean parents both domestically and abroad. Many expressed surprise that an heir with seemingly unlimited financial resources chose to remain within the domestic education system, known for its fierce competition.

Park Sun-young noted that many affluent families, from celebrities to business leaders, currently rush to enroll their children in English-language kindergartens before sending them abroad. Therefore, it is commendable that a Samsung heir chose to have her son study domestically.

Many also view this as proof of the effectiveness of Korean education, demonstrating that students can achieve excellence if they remain focused and are not disrupted by changes in living environments.

Local sources reported that in 2018, Lee Boo-jin moved from the affluent Itaewon neighborhood to Daechi-dong, Seoul's "cram school district," to support her son's middle and high school education. She only returned to Itaewon after her son completed his secondary education. She currently serves as the chief executive officer of Hotel Shilla.

The Suneung is an 8-hour exam comprising 6 sections, often likened to a life-changing turning point, demanding years of rigorous study from Korean students.

Khanh Linh (According to The Korea Herald, The Korea Times)