Kyunggi High School () is the oldest modern high school in Korea, located in Gangnam District, Seoul. The school is an all-boys school, and its counterpart is , also located in Gangnam District, Seoul. Kyunggi High School has educated many leaders of the South Korean society. It is the "K" in the so-called "K-S mark," an informal reference to educational credentials said to ensure career success, with the "S" standing for Seoul National University. Before the abolition of the high-school entrance exams in 1974, it was the highest-ranked school in the country. Alumni associations for the school are widespread throughout Korea and abroad. Famous alumni may be found in all sectors of society and include many past and present politicians (as well as four Prime Ministers), high-ranking government officials, award-winning scientists and scholars, business executives and national athletes. History The school was established by an edict of Emperor Gojong on April 4, 1899, and opened its doors on November 10, 1900. The school's original name was Gwallib Middle School (관립중학교). Its establishment was part of a general program of educational modernization. This effort at modernization was swallowed up by the Japanese annexation in 1910, but the school itself survived. Originally chartered as a middle school, it became a high school in 1906, though it continued to offer middle-school classes until 1971. In 2000, the South Korean government issued a commemorative 170-won stamp, marking the school's 100th anniversary. September 1, 1906: Renamed to National Hansung High School. November 1, 1910: Annexed Hansung Foreign Language School and renamed to Kyungsung High School. April 1, 1911: Opened a one-year course for producing teachers and renamed to Kyungsung First Middle School. April 1, 1938: Renamed to National Kyunggi Middle School. June 4, 1938: Set the school's flag. October 1, 1945: Lee Hun-gu (이헌구) was the 15th principal of the school and was also the first ethnic Korean to be a school principal since World War II began. August 31, 1951: Divided into two schools (Kyunggi Middle School and Kyunggi High School) according to the new law. June 25, 1954: Set the school's new flag. August 15, 1955: Constructed a new building for Hwa-dong (화동) middle school. January 27, 1956: Set the school's motto to liberal, culturally advanced, and peaceful people. February 28, 1971: Kyunggi Middle School is closed. November 11, 1971: Opened a hall of residence for freshmen. Every freshman spends two weeks/per year