Three out of ten CEOs of top 1000 companies are SKY graduates

Unicosearch, Survey of 1,371 CEOs on University and Age
SKY Share 29.9%... Over 20% for 5 Consecutive Years Since 2019
Seoul National University Business Administration Most Common... Busan National University Leading in Provinces

Among the CEOs of the top 1,000 companies in South Korea, three out of ten graduated from 'SKY (Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University)'. The proportion of SKY graduates has remained in the 20% range for five consecutive years since 2019. Among majors, graduates from the 'Seoul National University Business Administration Department' were the most numerous.

Global headhunting specialist Unicosrch released an analysis report on the alma mater and majors of CEOs of the top 1,000 companies by sales this year. They surveyed 1,371 executives registered as CEOs in semi-annual reports.

The survey results showed that Seoul National University graduates were the most numerous at 189 (13.8%). Yonsei University (113 people, 8.2%) and Korea University (108 people, 7.9%) also produced more than 100 CEOs each.

The proportion of Seoul National University graduates was 15.2% in 2019, 14.9% in 2020, 14.1% in 2021, 13.9% last year, and 13.8% this year. SKY graduates totaled 410 (29.9%). In 2007, when the survey covered the top 500 companies, the figure was 59.7%, and in 2008, the first year the scope expanded to the top 1,000 companies, it was 45.6%. It dropped below 40% for the first time in 2013 at 39.5%. After recording the 20% range for the first time in 2019 (29.4%), it maintained the 20% range for five consecutive years with 29.3% in 2020, 28.4% in 2021, 28.9% last year, and 29.9% this year.

Seoul National University graduates born in the 1930s include Ko Eun-hee, Chairwoman of Daelim Trading (born 1934), Lee Bu-seop, Chairman of Dongjin Semichem (born 1937), Heo Nam-gak, Chairman of Samyang Trading (born 1938), and Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of CJ (born 1939). Chairman Lee Bu-seop of Dongjin Semichem and his second son, Vice Chairman Lee Jun-hyuk, are alumni of Seoul National University's Chemical Engineering Department. Seoul National University graduates born in the 1980s include Lee Joo-hwan, CEO of Com2uS (born 1980), and Choi Soo-yeon, President of Naver (born 1981).

Among the 1,371 CEOs, those born in 1964 were the most numerous at 115 (8.4%). Among CEOs born in 1964, Seoul National University graduates numbered 16, the highest. Korea University (13) and Yonsei University (10) also produced more than 10 CEOs.

Korea University graduates include Jang Jae-hoon, President of Hyundai Motor Company (Sociology), Hong Won-hak, President of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance (Japanese Language and Literature), and Uh Sung-chul, President of Hanwha Systems (Economics). Yonsei University graduates include Jeon Young-mook, President of Samsung Life Insurance (Business Administration), Kim Sun-hee, President of Maeil Dairies (French Literature), and Yoon Chun-sung, President of LX International (Geology).

Among CEOs not from SKY universities, Hanyang University graduates were the most numerous at 64. They were followed by Pusan National University and Sungkyunkwan University (37 each), Sogang University (36), Chung-Ang University (34), Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (27), Inha University (25), Kyung Hee University (21), and Konkuk University and Dongguk University (19 each).

Regional universities ranked as follows: Pusan National University (37), Yeungnam University (19), Kyungpook National University (16), Dong-A University (15), Gyeongnam National University (9), Chungnam National University (8), Chonnam National University and Chungbuk National University (7 each), Pukyong National University (6), and Jeonbuk National University (5).

The proportion of STEM graduates was 45.4%, up 0.5 percentage points (p) from 44.9% last year. It first surpassed 50% in 2019 at 51.6%, then slightly declined. Among the total 1,371 CEOs, 911 had their alma mater recorded in the semi-annual reports. Among them, the proportion of Business Administration majors was the highest at 23.4%. This was followed by Economics (8.1%), Chemical Engineering (7.9%), Mechanical Engineering (6.5%), Electronic Engineering (5.2%), Law (4.5%), Trade (2.6%), Metallurgical Engineering (2.4%), Accounting and Industrial Engineering (2.3%), and Architectural Engineering (2.2%).

Among CEOs majoring in Business Administration, Seoul National University graduates were the most numerous at 37. Yonsei University (35) and Korea University (34) also produced more than 30 CEOs each. Notable Seoul National University Business Administration alumni CEOs include Kwon Young-soo, Vice Chairman of LG Energy Solution (born 1957), Kim Jun, Vice Chairman of SK Innovation (born 1961), and Kim Yong-beom, Vice Chairman of Meritz Financial Group (born 1963).