By Lee Tae-hoon
A South Korean cadet studying at the U.S. Air Force Academy in the commissioned training program topped the class in the first semester, Kim Min-seok, spokesman of the Air Force said Thursday.
Kim said 21-year-old Choi Jung-gyu received a perfect 4.0 grade point average after scoring straight “As” in his five courses, which include engineering, computer science and behavioral science.
Choi entered the South Korean Air Force Academy in 2010 and transferred to start his first year at the U.S. military academy in August last year, majoring in aeronautical engineering.
Choi was the only one among 1,066 cadets in his class to receive perfect marks, according to Air Force officials here. Of them, about 100 commissioned students are from some 40 countries, including Poland, Colombia, Singapore and the Philippines.
Officials said Korea first sent Air Force cadets to the U.S. academy in 1968 and 21 have taken courses there so far.
They note that Choi, who also earned high marks in his military training, was awarded both the Dean's Pin for his academic achievements and the Commandant's Pin for his military excellence.
“I’m pleased that I've been able to prove the distinction of the Korean Air Force Academy,” Choi said. “As a representative of Korea, I will continue to do my best during the remaining three and a half years at the academy.”
Choi graduated from Daewon Foreign Language High School in Seoul where he developed his English skills.
He had never lived or studied abroad before entering the U.S. academy.