Ever since it was founded in 1774, Yonsei University has been nothing short of a landmark in upstate Seoul. It looms over its beautiful, sprawling campus with a laid-back arrogance, a poised grandeur that’s shrouded in the school’s impressive history like a coat. Everything from its faded brick walls and castle-like towers to its manicured lawns and sculpted courtyard fountains haughtily imply just how important this institution is, and just how expensive. It’s a joint preparatory school and university with a name that is internationally recognized; its alumni have reached every corner of the globe with their achievements, their success, their fame. Acceptance into Yonsei practically guarantees you acceptance into every Ivy League graduate program you could think of- just take a look at their graduation percentages, you’ll get the bigger picture. So it’s not hard to see why, with a reputation like this one, everyone wants in. It is also not surprising that only an exclusive few out of the thousands of applicantsactually get to see inside those ivy-covered walls. And how many community service hours you have on your application is not the deciding factor at Yonsei.
At this University, those exclusive few are nothing short of remarkable themselves. These are the prodigies of the famous, the wealthy, the royal, the important and powerful, born into privilege and prestige as if they were manufactured especially for Yonsei. Some of them aren’t only riding on the important names of their parents, but are students at Yonsei because of their own merit: young movie stars, socialites, much-talked-about heirs to immense fortunes and corporations. The truth is that if anyone were to step onto Yonsei’s campus and take a look around, they would immediately realize one thing: Yonsei isn’t just a school. It’s a home for the next generation of people who will, in some way or another, rule the world.
Of course, there are exceptions. There are those who attend Yonsei on hefty scholarships, and their presence at the school is not a result of money or aristocratic bloodlines but of pure intellect, hard work and steely determination. There are those who are just as equally famous and rich as their peers, but their fame is actually scandalous notoriety and they’ve been shipped away to a boarding school by parents who want them out of the spotlight. And even the most elite of Yonsei indulge some less-than-acceptable activities, with their secret parties and wild nights. Whatever the case, Yonsei isn’t just an university made up of perfect people with designer clothes, black Amex credit cards, and charming smiles- though that’s usually the first impression you get. But underneath that pristine image, darker things lurk; secrets, scandals, sins abound. And sometimes, the truth about everything that should stay hidden has a nasty ways of getting out.
The students of Yonsei lead seemingly perfect, flaw-free lives. But what if it’s nothing more than a show? What if the Seoul girls have skeletons in their closets that you’d be shocked to find? What if the boys have done things they desperately wish they could erase? What if people don’t only house those without conscience or heart, but instead harbor those with a lot more vulnerabilities than they care to admit? In a school where reputation is everything, where social climbing is a dangerous sport, these are the questions that everyone ponders. And this year, maybe some of them will be answered.