Kim Yu-na May Attend University of Toronto
By Kim Jae-won and Bryan Kay
Staff Reporters
Hacked-off Korea University (KU) students believe bosses are sacrificing academic standards for image.
The institution published an advertisement in a Korean-language newspaper, Monday, under the headline, ``Korea University delivered the world's leader!" ― even though Kim Yu-na hadn't yet even attended a KU class. The claim has raised eyebrows over the perceived damage it could do to the university's credibility as an academic institution.
``Fellow students'' ― some of whom admitted they wanted to take classes with her ― say the boast wrecks rather than boosts the university image.
Their outrage was followed by an apparent admission from her agent that Kim is still mulling over whether or not she will begin her studies immediately.
``It is good for Kim to attend our school,'' one history student told The Korea Times at the university's Seoul campus, Thursday. ``But the school's advertisement is shameful. I also think it is exaggerated. It doesn't look good."
Another added, ``I think the school is just abusing her for the school's image, though I want to take a course with her.''
Despite the KU claim, it is likely Kim will attend the University of Toronto because she spends most of her time training in Canada, and will complete her course work through a credit-sharing scheme between the Canadian school and KU.
Though the university denies it has given Kim special treatment, her agent said it ``wasn't easy'' for the star to attend KU classes.
``Yu-na may attend the University of Toronto, which shares credits with us,'' university spokesman Song In-sik told The Korea Times, April 1. ``It is because she is practicing there for the Vancouver Olympics.''
Kim Young-jin, director of IB Sports, her agency, painted a picture of a busy schedule, suggesting the issue of her studies was not yet set in stone.
``It is not easy for her to attend Korea University because she has so much scheduled and she leaves for Canada around May 10,'' he told The Korea Times, Thursday. ``I heard that the University of Toronto is a sister university of Korea University. We think Kim will attend there during her practice in Canada.''
Critics have been further angered by the fact that KU altered its rules to grant Kim admission after she was interviewed over the Internet from Toronto last October.
But the university denied that it has given any special favors to the star.
``There is no special treatment for Kim,'' a university official said.
Just last month, budding basketball player Kim Jin-soo said there was no red carpet laid out for him when he went to study in the United States.
``I must take courses. The atmosphere is very serious,'' said Kim, who attends the University of Maryland and plays on the school's basketball team.
However, arguments often rage among students in the United States over the admission of allegedly inferior academic candidates to prestigious U.S. institutions based on their sporting prowess.
Despite the controversy, others are looking beyond the claimed favoritism. KU junior Yoo Hyun-jin offered a word of advice to Yu-na: ``I hope she can study hard as a student.''