Kim Ji Hun is looking back on his surprisingly strong academic record — and why he chose Ajou University despite scoring among the top students in the country.
Appearing on Yoo In Na’s YouTube channel “You In Radio” on September 2nd, Kim was asked about reports that his IQ had tested above 150 and that he scored in the high 350s out of 400 on Korea’s college entrance exam.
His score reportedly placed him in roughly the top 1% nationwide, and Kim said he had never ranked lower than third in his class throughout his school years.
“I really did everything I possibly could. Honestly, I expected a slightly higher score,” Kim said, adding that he briefly considered retaking the exam. He ultimately decided against it because the idea of studying for the test all over again felt unbearable.
“I had studied so hard that the thought of doing it one more time horrified me,” he said.
Kim’s decision to attend Ajou University despite his high score has also drawn renewed attention.
During a 2018 appearance on tvN’s Problematic Men, he explained that Ajou offered an unusually generous scholarship program at the time. Students entering with scores in the top 3% on the national exam were eligible for full tuition and dormitory expenses for four years.
“I enrolled because I wanted the scholarship,” Kim said at the time.
Despite his grades, Kim said his memories of himself as a student were far less impressive.
When Yoo suggested he must have been both smart and popular because of his looks, Kim replied, “I was just a loser.”
He added, “Especially in high school, I guess my hormones were going crazy. I had a lot of acne, and my eyesight was bad, so I wore glasses.”
Kim currently stars opposite Kim Hye Soo in Coupang Play series The Affair Was Just the Beginning, which is set to release its finale on September 4th.
>> Kim Ji Hun on Working With Kim Hye Soo: ‘My Goal Was to Earn Her Approval’
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
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