An 85-year-old woman has become Korea’s oldest college graduate this year, proving that education has no expiration date.
Kim Jeong-ja received her associate degree in social welfare from the Future Education Institute at Sookmyung Women’s University, earning a standing ovation as she walked across the stage. Her achievement marks the culmination of a seven-year journey that began when she first learned to read and write at age 78.
Born in 1941, Kim grew up during the Korean War and was unable to attend school. As the eldest of eight children, she worked various manual jobs to support her family, putting education aside for decades.
Her turning point came in her late 70s, when she realized she could not read airport signs while seeing off her daughter. Determined to change that, she enrolled in an adult literacy program, later completing middle and high school equivalency courses. In 2024, she became the oldest test taker for Korea’s College Scholastic Ability Test and soon after entered Sookmyung’s continuing education program — the same university her granddaughter had attended.
Despite chronic back pain and a three-hour commute, Kim attended early morning classes, handwritten assignments taking her an entire day to complete. Classmates often helped her navigate campus, carrying her bag and ensuring she got home safely.
Through her studies, she developed a desire to support others through social welfare work. She now plans to continue toward a bachelor’s degree, saying she hopes to offer encouragement to children facing hardship.
Her story stands as a powerful reminder that learning can begin — and begin again — at any stage of life.