Lee Hajin of Jeonju Hanil High Achieves First Perfect Score in Jeonbuk in 8 Years
"Self-Directed, Proactive Studying and Sufficient Rest Were the Keys"
Five students achieved perfect scores on the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), which was considered more difficult than last year. Among them, Lee Hajin from Jeonju Hanil High School humbly said on December 5, "I was lucky to get a perfect score." Lee is the first student in eight years from the Jeonbuk region to achieve a perfect score on the CSAT.
Student Lee Hajin, who scored a perfect score on the College Scholastic Ability Test, being interviewed. Jeonbuk Office of Education
Yonhap News reported on Lee's remarks during a media interview held at his school that day. Lee stated, "These days, EBS lectures and online lectures are well-developed, and there are many high-quality CSAT workbooks available, even outside of Seoul, so I don't agree with the idea that it's difficult to get good results in the provinces." Regarding private education, he added, "All I did was attend a math academy near my school for three months this year."
As the secret to his perfect score, Lee cited self-directed and active studying, as well as sufficient rest. He explained, "When solving problems, I tried not just one way but several different approaches. I would think about and solve things that the question did not directly ask, and I even created and solved similar problems on my own." He reflected, "I think thinking a lot helped me."
He continued, "My parents, who work in education, emphasized reading from an early age, so I always read books. I only got my first mobile phone when I entered high school. Reading helped me not only in Korean but also in improving my scores in many other subjects."
Lee said he tried to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. He noted, "I made sure to get seven hours of sleep a day, from midnight to 7 a.m. After self-study ended at 10 p.m. at school, I relieved stress by playing games instead of studying. Even during breaks, I took light walks to ensure I had time to rest," emphasizing the importance of rest.
He also remarked, "Studying is important, but I thought health was even more important if I wanted to keep studying for three years." He added, "Even when my grades dropped in the middle, I overcame stress by pursuing various hobbies."
When he entered high school, Lee was ranked 36th in his class and was not among the top students. However, over three years, he improved his grades through systematic school classes, guidance, and academic support programs provided by the education office. He advised his juniors, "If you build a solid foundation in Korean, English, and math, anyone can achieve a perfect score."
His homeroom teacher, Kim Shinu, congratulated Lee and said, "Hajin always listened attentively to the teacher's explanations in every class and showed a willingness to explore deeply on his own." Kim added that Lee also maintained good relationships with his peers, enjoying conversations during breaks and actively playing soccer.
Meanwhile, Lee, who dreams of becoming an internist, is known to have applied to several medical schools, including Seoul National University, through early admission. He said, "I have suffered from asthma and rhinitis since I was young, which naturally led me to become interested in medicine. If I enter medical school, I want to become an internist, as they play the most important role in saving lives."
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