Established in 1946 Yongsan High School stands proudly in Seoul South Korea. Its history stretches back further though to the Japanese colonial era. The school’s official founding date however is 1946. Before that it educated children of Japanese military officials.
Like many Seoul schools Yongsan High School evacuated to Busan during the Korean War. It remained there until 1953. After the war it temporarily shared buildings with US military forces. This was while a nearby base underwent renovations. The school expanded over the years adding new buildings. Its current main building opened in 1999. A new dormitory was completed in 2011 to accommodate its boarding students. Yongsan High School is one of the few public schools in Seoul with boarding facilities.
Yongsan High School is known as a general high school. It has a science and mathematics focus. This differs from more specialized science high schools in Seoul. Besides local boys from designated middle schools the school accepts academically gifted students from across Seoul.
The school boasts strong sports teams. Field hockey and basketball are particularly noteworthy. Students frequently join youth national teams in these sports. The field hockey team has been remarkably successful winning back-to-back national championships in 2019 and 2020. They also reached the finals in 2021.
Yongsan High School’s basketball team has a long and impressive history. It was one of the earliest schools to introduce the sport. It has produced many professional players for the Korean Basketball League and the national team. During the 1960s to 1980s it was one of Seoul’s top basketball schools along with Whimoon and Kyungbock High Schools. Kyungbock remains Yongsan’s biggest rival. As of 2021 Yongsan High School has had three number one draft picks in the KBL rookie draft. This is the second most of any high school in Korea.
The school’s notable alumni include prominent figures in business sports and the arts. Chung Mong-gyu a businessman and chairman of HDC Group is one alumnus. Several famous basketball players like Heo Hoon Heo Ung and Hur Jae are also alumni. Other notable alumni are the poet Jung Hee-sung and actor Park Joong-hoon.
The school has even featured in popular culture. The term “Yongsan Mafia” has been used in the media. It refers to the connections among alumni in Korean basketball. This is even if those individuals never actually knew each other during their school days. The term surfaced around 2005 and again during the 2007-2008 KBL season. Yongsan High School was also mentioned in the film *Rebound*. This is a biographical movie about Busan Joongang High School’s basketball team.
Yongsan High School stands as a testament to academic excellence athletic prowess and its enduring legacy in South Korean history and culture.