Kyunggi High School

Infobox Korean name
hangul=경기고등학교
hanja=京畿高等學校
rr=Gyeonggi Godeung Hakgyo
mr=Kyŏnggi Kodŭng Hakkyo

Kyunggi High School is the oldest modern secondary school in Korea, and has educated many leaders of South Korean society. Before the abolition of high-school entrance exams, it was the highest-ranked school in the country. It is located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, today one of South Korea's most prosperous areas. The current principal is Lee Gi-Sung (이기성).

The school was established by edict of King Gojong on April 4 1899, and opened its doors on November 10 1900. The school's original name was Gwallim Middle School (관림중학교). Its establishment was part of a general program of educational modernization. This effort at modernization was swallowed up by the Japanese annexation in 1910, but the school itself survived. Originally chartered as a middle school, it became a high school in 1906. However, it continued to offer middle-school classes until 1971.

In 2000, the South Korean government issued a commemorative 170-won stamp, marking the school's 100th anniversary. [http://www.pennfamily.org/KSS-USA/20001002-2091.htm]

Alumni associations for the school are widespread throughout Korea and abroad. Famous alumni include former ambassador Hong Seok-hyun and Hannara Party leader Lee Hoi-chang, as well as early Korean Communist Party leader Pak Hon-yong (class of 1919). An Asian Game 2006 gold-medalist(three) and 2007 World Aquatics Championships gold-medalist Park Tae-Hwan is a twelfth grader, expecting to graduate in February 2008.(Korean academic year starts in March and ends in February)

Notable alumni

*Chung Un-chan: economist and the former president of Seoul National University.
*Kim Geun-tae: politician.
*Benjamin W. Lee : theoretical physicist.
*Lee Hoi-chang: politician and the former prime minister of South Korea.
*Nam June Paik: Korean-American artist. he is well known for his video artworks.
*Park Tae-hwan: swimmer.
*Son Hak-gyu: politician and the former governor of Gyeonggi-do.
*Han Duck-soo: politician.
*Hong Seok-hyun: former South Korea's ambassador to the United States

ee also

*Education in South Korea
*List of Korea-related topics

External links

* [http://www.kyunggialumni.com/kgamerica/ Kyunggi Alumni Associations in America] ko icon
* [http://www.kyunggi.hs.kr/ School website] ko icon