48 Self-Taught Students in Their 80s Become Freshmen at Sookmyung Women's University

The Oldest Student Is an 87-Year-Old Grandmother

Students in their 80s enrolling as new adult learners at Sookmyung Women's University Institute of Future Education.

Sookmyung Women's University announced on the 8th that a total of 48 new students will be admitted to the Institute of Future Education. Their entrance ceremony is scheduled to be held on the 10th at the Hansang-eun Lounge in the Centennial Memorial Hall of Sookmyung Women's University, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Among them, grandmothers Kim Gap-nyeo and Mo Bu-deok, both 87 years old, are the oldest adult learners. There is also grandmother Im Tae-su (84), the oldest candidate for the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test.

At the entrance ceremony, Moon Si-yeon, president of Sookmyung Women's University, plans to personally present the university emblem to Kim Gap-nyeo and Mo Bu-deok, the oldest enrollees at 87 years old. They will also receive the department jumper symbolizing Sookmyung Women's University, student IDs, and bouquets.

The Institute of Future Education at Sookmyung Women's University operates a two-year (four semesters) social welfare program, which awards an associate degree under the name of the Minister of Education, and a three-and-a-half-year (seven semesters) child studies program, which awards a bachelor's degree under the name of the university president. This year, 26 students enrolled in the social welfare department and 22 in the child studies department, totaling 48 new students, with 84 students currently enrolled.

Yoo Jong-sook, director of the Institute of Future Education at Sookmyung Women's University, said, "The students' challenge shows that there is no age limit to learning and inspires many people," adding, "We will continue to lower the barriers to education and strive to provide learning opportunities to everyone."