[New School Network]⑨ After 'Park's Power Broker' Lee Hu-rak, United under 'Apartment' Yoon Soo-il... Ulsan's Prestigious Hakseong High School

Overall Personnel Management Bok Dugyu · Policy Coordination Choi Younghae Working at the Presidential Office
Founded in 1975, the Football Club Produced Kim Dohoon, Lee Jaesung, Jung Wooyoung, and Others
Former Chief Nam Youngshin, Singer Yoon Sooil, and Announcer Oh Sangjin Are Also Alumni

Editor's NoteSouth Korean society is a vast networked society. Connections through academic ties, regional ties, and blood relations often intertwine and influence actions. Recently, academic networks have drawn particular attention. With the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, names like Harvard University, Seoul National University Law School, and Chungam High School have been symbolically mentioned. While some networks remain simple acquaintances, others influence policy decisions. Asia Economy reports biweekly on Saturdays on the 'New Academic Networks' focusing on high schools gaining new attention. ①Chungam High School ②Kyungmoon High School ③Mapo High School ④Gyeonggi High School ⑤Yeouido High School ⑥Hyundai High School ⑦Joongang High School ⑧Shinil High School⑨Hakseong High School

Hakseong High School (Hakseonggo), located on Munsu-ro in Nam-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City, was founded under the leadership of Lee Hu-rak, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and a key figure during the Park Chung-hee administration. The school's name 'Hakseong' was derived from the old name of Ulsan, Lee Hu-rak's ancestral home. It opened in 1969 as a private high school owned by the Ulsan Yukyounghoe and transitioned to a public school in 1982. With a strong academic zeal, the school boasts a high rate of admission to prestigious universities, naturally producing many distinguished alumni who have excelled in various sectors of society. Graduates of Hakseong High School have brought honor to their alma mater in politics, government, academia, finance, and healthcare.

Regarding the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, Bok Doo-gyu, Personnel Planning Officer at the Presidential Office (former Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Secretariat, 11th class), stands out. The Personnel Planning Officer oversees personnel affairs across the Presidential Office, government ministries, and public enterprises. This position replaced the abolished Chief of Personnel, and the media regarded it as a 'chief-level appointment.' A former prosecutor who worked with Officer Bok described him in a media interview as "someone who is very tight-lipped, meticulous, and thorough." Analysts have suggested that his discretion played a role in his selection. He has a history of working with President Yoon and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Criminal Investigation Department.

Officer Bok passed the level 9 public prosecutor recruitment exam at the age of 19 and rose to become the Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Secretariat (Grade 1), a top position for non-prosecutor public officials in the prosecution, often referred to as the 'warehouse keeper' of the prosecution. After retirement, he served as a distinguished professor at the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He is known for his gentle personality and excellent interpersonal skills.

Another Hakseong High School alumnus working at the Presidential Office is Choi Young-hae, Policy Coordination Secretary at the Office of National Policy Planning (13th class). The Policy Coordination Secretary coordinates work among government ministries based on the government's philosophy and policy direction. Choi has served as a Washington correspondent, editorial writer, international affairs chief, and deputy director of the content planning division at the Dong-A Ilbo.

Hakseong High School graduates are also active in the financial sector. Kwon Kwang-seok, Chairman of the Woori Smile Microfinance Foundation (11th class), is a contemporary of Officer Bok. Other notable alumni include Han Dong-hwan, Director of KB Management Research Institute (13th class), Kim Woo-chan, former auditor at the Financial Supervisory Service (7th class), and Woo Young-woong, former Vice President of Shinhan Financial Group. Kim Nam-gyu, CEO of La D?fense Partners (24th class), formerly Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of KCGI (Kang Sung-bu Fund), is also a graduate.

Notable alumni from Hakseong High School. (From left) Kwon Myung-ho, Member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party; Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency; Kim Doo-gyeom, Mayor of Ulsan; Bok Doo-gyu, Personnel Planning Officer at the Presidential Office; Yoon Soo-il, singer; Lee Jae-sung, soccer player for FSV Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga; Lim Jong-sik, Superintendent of Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education; Choi Sang-hoon, Seoul Bureau Chief of The New York Times.

In politics, Kwon Myung-ho, member of the People Power Party (8th class, Ulsan Dong-gu), and in public service, Im Jong-sik, Superintendent of Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education (3rd class), Kim Doo-gyeom, Mayor of Ulsan (5th class), Seo Dong-wook, Mayor of Nam-gu, Ulsan (10th class), Eom Dong-hwan, Administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (12th class), Kim Kwang-ho, Chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (12th class), Kim Tae-gyu, Vice Chairman in charge of Complaints and Civil Petitions at the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (13th class), Jeong Gyu-yeol, Chief of Busan Northern Police Station (14th class), Yang Young-bong, Director of Gangneung Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (16th class), Lee Im-geol, Head of the National Assembly Security Unit at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (16th class), Park Yong-moon, Chief of Busan Western Police Station (18th class), Im Hyun-gyu, Chief of Yongsan Police Station in Seoul (19th class), and Kim Seong-beom, Chief of Ulsan Tax Office (27th class) are actively working. Nam Young-shin (10th class), the first Commander of the Armed Forces Security Support Command and former Chief of Staff of the Army, is also an alumnus.

In academia, Han Sam-geon, Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Ulsan University (6th class), Kang Dae-seop, Professor of Law at Pusan National University (7th class), Park Kyung-sam, Professor of Business Administration at Korea University (14th class), Lee Jun-hyung, Dean of Faculty at the Korean National Police University (15th class), and Park Ki-ryeon, Secretary General of the Foundation Committee at Dongguk University (15th class) have enhanced the school's prestige.

In the media, Choi Sang-hoon, Seoul Bureau Chief of The New York Times (10th class), stands out. In September 1999, while working as a reporter for the AP News Seoul Bureau, he was the first to report official U.S. operational orders and documents related to the so-called 'No Gun Ri Incident,' where approximately 400 Korean civilians were massacred by U.S. forces during the Korean War in July 1950.

For this report, Choi became the first Korean to receive the Pulitzer Prize. He also received the George Polk Award in the U.S., the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists' International Investigative Reporting Award, and the Korea Journalists Association Special Award. He was also honored with the Asia Publishers Association Award and the Asia Human Rights Journalists Award for his coverage of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement in 2008 and cyclone damage in 2009. Other Hakseong High School alumni in media include Kwon Hyuk-chul, Head of the Political and Unification Diplomacy Team at The Hankyoreh (15th class), Yoon Joo-ung, News Director and Editor-in-Chief at UBC Ulsan Broadcasting (15th class), Jung Sung-wook, News Director at TBC Daegu Broadcasting (17th class), Seo Jeong-myeong, International Affairs Chief at Seoul Economic Daily (18th class), and Seol Tae-ju, News Director at Ulsan MBC (20th class).

In business, Lee Si-woo, CEO of POSCO (6th class), Ahn Jung-ho, CEO of Pan Ocean (10th class), Kim Yoon-geun, Vice President and Head of Legal Support at Samsung Heavy Industries (11th class), Park Byung-ryul, Executive Director and CEO of Jin Air (11th class), Kim Myung-jin, CEO of Geonoh Construction, Kim Jeong-han, CEO of Donghae Gas Industry (12th class), Choi Seong-cheol, Head of Corporate Strategy at Lotte Confectionery (17th class), Ko Guk, Executive Director at Hyundai Heavy Industries (18th class), and Choi Kwang-bo, Vice President at Samsung Electronics (19th class, Business Support TF) are active.

Exterior view of Hakseong High School in Ulsan. Photo by Hakseong High School

Yoon Soo-il, a singer who gained great popularity in the 1970s and 1980s with hits like 'Apartment' and 'Enchanting Confession' (2nd class), is also a Hakseong High School alumnus. Born in Jangsaengpo, Ulsan, he spent his formative years in Ulsan until graduating high school. He has acknowledged that his alumni network greatly supported his singing career. In a March 2016 interview with Ulsan Daily, Yoon said, "Forty years ago, before SNS existed, music rankings were determined by postcard counts. Hakseong High School alumni united and sent many postcards. Even now, when I meet hometown friends and seniors or juniors, they say I am a 'singer nurtured by Ulsan.'"

Currently, 'Apartment' is widely loved as a cheering song at professional baseball games. Regarding this, Yoon reflected in a broadcast interview, "When I composed this song, it was about a sad farewell, but surprisingly, it is sung as an exciting cheering song. It shows that music is interpreted more by the singers and listeners than by the composer's intention." Announcer Oh Sang-jin, who is active in broadcasting, is also a graduate of Hakseong High School.

When mentioning Hakseong High School, one cannot omit the late Lieutenant Colonel Kim Do-hyun (21st class) of the Air Force. A native of Ulsan, Kim graduated from Hakseong High School and was commissioned in 1996 as part of the 44th class of the Air Force Academy. On May 5, 2006, during a Children's Day airshow demonstration flight, his aircraft malfunctioned and crashed. He turned the controls to protect the spectators, sacrificing himself. That same year, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Military Merit, Samil Medal, by the government.

Both the Hakseong High School Alumni Association and Ulsan society hold annual memorial services to honor his noble sacrifice and spirit of selflessness. The 17th memorial service for Lieutenant Colonel Kim Do-hyun was held on May 4 at the Ulsan Grand Park Memorial Tower, attended by National Assembly member Kwon Myung-ho, Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom, City Council Chairman Kim Ki-hwan, Superintendent Cheon Chang-soo, and Chairman of the Memorial Project Choi Kwang-sik, among others.

Hakseong High School is also known for its soccer team, founded in 1975. In 2006, it won the 10th Japan Hasaki Cup High School Soccer Tournament hosted by the Mainichi Shimbun, reaffirming its status as a soccer powerhouse. The team remained undefeated throughout the tournament, which featured 130 high school teams from across Japan, including the final against Narashino High School. This was their third championship, following wins in 2002 and 2004.

Additionally, on the 17th of last month, Hakseong High School defeated Dongnae High School 3-0 in the final match of the first half of the National High School League Busan region held at the Busan World Cup Village, securing the first-half championship. Notable soccer alumni include Jung Woo-young (37th class), a midfielder and defender for Al Sadd SC in the Qatar Stars League, and Lee Jae-sung (40th class), who plays for FSV Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga. Alumni have also supported the soccer team; in January 2017, graduates collectively raised funds to donate one large bus and one van for the team.

Various alumni gatherings are active. The Hakseong High School Alumni Association holds an annual 'Bi-Hak Festival' to promote camaraderie among graduates. Other small groups include golf and hiking clubs.

The alumni association voluntarily established the 'Hakchil Scholarship Foundation' to support juniors. Founded in 2004 by the 7th class alumni under the alumni association, the foundation annually awards scholarships to economically disadvantaged students. According to alumni, scholarships totaling over 300 million KRW have been awarded to more than 300 students by 2020. The association also selects 'Proud Hakseong Alumni' to honor individuals who have brought distinction to the school. Recipients include Seo Jeong-seop, Acting Mayor of Seoul (12th class), Kang Hoon-cheol, Professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine (15th class), Kim Do-hoon, Manager of Ulsan Hyundai Football Club (18th class), and the late Lieutenant Colonel Kim Do-hyun (21st class) of the Air Force.

[Standing Tall as a Prestigious National High School... Ulsan Hakseong High School]

Hakseong High School was established after 'Useok (又石)' Lee Hu-rak founded the 'Ulsan Yukyounghoe' school foundation in the early 1960s. In the 1980s, Lee Hu-rak's assets were confiscated by the state, leading to the dissolution of Ulsan Yukyounghoe. Hakseong High School, which was a private high school under the foundation, also transitioned to a public high school in 1982. In 2022, it produced six medical school admits through early admissions, making it known as the high school with the most medical school admits to regional national universities.

The role of the late Kim Ho-sik, the first principal, was significant in Hakseong High School gaining nationwide prestige. At the time of the school's founding, there were no prestigious high schools in Ulsan for middle school graduates to attend. This caused concern among students and parents. After becoming principal, Kim personally met with parents of middle school graduates, promising to make Hakseong High School a nationally prestigious school within reach, and actively recruited students.

Students admitted under this vision began gaining admission to Seoul National University under the guidance of dedicated teachers. Among the 5th graduating class, five students entered Seoul National University. Around this time, the reputation spread in Ulsan that "Hakseong High School sends students to prestigious universities," establishing its current status. The promise made to parents to make Hakseong a nationally prestigious school became a reality.

Since its opening in 1969, Hakseong High School has produced 26,209 graduates who have played pivotal roles across various sectors of society. Kim Ki-chul, president of the alumni association (15th class), said, "All alumni demonstrate achievements worthy of the name 'Hakseong' across society. I believe Hakseong people will lead Korea for the next 100 years."