Hoang Huong Giang, the top scorer nationwide within the science monitor of Vietnam’s excessive school commencement examination, speaks throughout an interview with the Hankook Ilbo in Hanoi, July 9. Korea Times picture by Jeong Ji-yong
Korea has superior scientific and technological capabilities and powerful connections between universities and business.
HANOI — “Medical school was never even an option for me. It simply isn’t the field I’m passionate about.”
Hoang Huong Giang, 18, Vietnam’s top scorer within the science monitor of the nationwide excessive school commencement examination, paused briefly when requested whether or not she had ever thought-about learning drugs earlier than giving her reply.
Despite incomes the very best rating nationwide within the science monitor (arithmetic, physics and English), an ideal 1,600 on the SAT and an IELTS rating of 8.0, Giang chose neither medical school nor an elite U.S. college.
Instead, she’s going to enroll within the Department of Computer Science on the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Korea’s sience & analysis hub of Daejeon. She graduated from the High School for Gifted Students affiliated with Hanoi National University of Education, one in every of Vietnam’s main establishments for nurturing top science and engineering expertise.
An entrance of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon / Yonhap
As Korean firms increase investments in Vietnam in superior industries reminiscent of AI and semiconductors, competitors to draw top international expertise is intensifying. At the identical time, the rising focus of Korea’s highest-achieving science college students in medical faculties has heightened the necessity to recruit excellent worldwide expertise.
In an interview with the Hankook Ilbo in Hanoi, July 9, Giang mentioned she chose KAIST due to its world-class schooling and Korea’s vibrant know-how ecosystem.
“Korea has advanced scientific and technological capabilities and strong connections between universities and industry,” she mentioned. “I hope to contribute to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and make people’s lives more convenient.”
The following are edited excerpts from the interview.
Q. Why did you select to check in Korea?
A. Korea provides high-quality, sensible schooling. It is extremely aggressive in STEM (science, know-how, engineering and arithmetic), and universities work intently with firms, permitting college students to use what they study within the classroom to real-world product improvement. I additionally thought-about learning within the United States, however Korea has a decrease crime charge, making it a safer place. Its tradition can be comparatively much like Vietnam’s, so I believed it will be simpler to adapt.
Q. Why did you in the end select KAIST?
A. I debated between Seoul National University and KAIST. In the top, I chose KAIST as a result of it has an impressive status in science and know-how and is usually known as the “MIT of Korea.” I additionally thought Seoul, with its procuring, performances and plenty of points of interest, may be distracting. At KAIST, I consider I can focus fully on my research.
Q. What impressed you to main in pc science?
A. When I used to be in center school getting ready for entrance exams to a specialised math program, I turned fascinated by mathematical and logical considering.
“In high school, learning C++ programming sparked my interest in computers. I frequently use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity. But I don’t just want to use them — I want to understand the underlying principles and architecture behind how they work.
Hoang Huong Giang, the top scorer nationwide in the science track of Vietnam’s high school graduation examination, speaks during an interview with the Hankook Ilbo in Hanoi, July 9. Korea Times photo by Jeong Ji-yong
Q. Did you ever consider applying to medical school?
A. Never. It simply isn’t a field that interests me. I enjoy solving difficult problems, discovering new solutions and understanding the fundamental nature of problems. Computer science aligns much better with the way I think and what I enjoy.
Q. Vietnam’s college admissions are highly competitive. How did you study?
A. Rather than memorizing formulas, I tried to develop my own approaches to solving problems and understand the principles behind them. I believe I truly understand something only when I can explain it to someone else in a simple and easy-to-understand way. My parents always respected my choices, and their support gave me the confidence to pursue my own goals.
Q. What are your career goals?
A. I want to apply what I learn at university to real-world projects as soon as possible. Korea is home to respected companies such as Samsung, SK and Naver. I hope to have the opportunity to work one day at a company with a strong technology ecosystem.
Korean singer G-Dragon arrives at the Chanel 2026 Métiers d’Art Collection event held at Pompidou Center Hanwha in Seoul, May 26. Yonhap
At the end of the interview, Giang smiled as she revealed she is also a fan of K-pop.
“I like T-ara and TWICE,” she said, adding that another reason she became interested in KAIST was that “G-Dragon as soon as served as a visiting professor there.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.