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█XXABOUT THE SCHOOL South Korea is known for its high standard of education and intense competition for university entrance, and the city of Gangnam is considered the national capital of education. The fourth most populated district in Seoul, Gangnam is an area where there are many academies and privileged High Schools, making it parents’ most preferred area for their child’s education.
Our story focuses on the most elite academy in Seoul, and arguable South Korea, Gangnam Academy. The school has been around for many, many generations, accumulating an rich history, rivals, and drama. It is listed as number one on the top rankings of education in Korea, and number three in the world. Attending Gangnam Academy insures that you will achieve your dreams, opening doors to many beneficial connections in the future. The school accepts students off all social class – or so they say. In reality, a vast majority of students that are accepted come from wealthy families. If you don’t have money, good luck getting in. The only exception would be if one applied for a special case scholarship – meaning they have what it takes to excel in the school, but not nearly enough money to keep up with the funds. Only a handful of special cases are actually accepted.
Because Gangnam Academy is a school for the prosperous, many of the students who attend are children of wealthy business tycoons, or chaebols. Just like every other teenager, however, these students focus more on their personal lives and gossip rather than their studies. They don’t have to worry about much, though, because their futures are already planned out for them – or most of them, anyway.
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█XXTHE PLOT School has been in session for a few months now. The students are anticipating Winter Break. They’re working hard beforehand, so they can toss aside their books and school work to attend the copious parties thrown by the wealthiest of students, as well as their own private parties – if you know what I mean. What will happen during their two weeks off?
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█XXTHE HIERARCHY Gangnam Academy thrives off of a strict social hierarchy set up by the students. There are five general categories that go in descending order: The Top Tier, The Superior, The Average, The Inferior, and The Scholarships. These names have been in existence since the founding of the school, when the class president at the time felt the need to do a little organizing. These names were given informally and are not recognized by the staff or parents.
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THE KINGS AND QUEENS these are Junior and Senior students that are both extremely wealthy and hold the top six grades in the school. They all have a 4.5 GPA--which makes them like royalty at Gangnam academy, These students are considered the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the kings and the queens. There are six students in this ranking; the king, the queen, two princes, and two princesses. Only Seniors are eligible to become King or Queen; however, that doesn't mean being a Senior automatically guarantees the spot. No, in order to become King or Queen, you must be selected by the current Royalty to take over their position after they graduate.
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THE NOBLES these are students that are both extremely wealthy and hold the top grades in the school. They all have a GPA between 4.3 and 4.4. These students are considered some of the best and are still quite prized.
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THE SUPERIOR these are the students that didn't quite make it into the top ten, but are equally as smart, with GPAs ranging from 4.0-4.5. These students come from wealthy families, though not as wealthy as the students in the top tier.
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THE AVERAGE these students hold an average GPA, ranging between 3.7-3.9. They're still considered intelligent, but they lack a bit in comparison to the previous two rankings. This is also the category where the lower half of the upper-class and middle class students fall--neither poor, nor incredible wealthy.
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THE INFERIOR these are second lowest class students. Their GPAs fall between 3.3 and 3.6. Generally, they also come from middle-income families, but occasionally there'll be a student from a wealthy family that struggles with school. While these students are considered the lower class, they tend to get along with both students from the other rankings and scholarship students.
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THE SCHOLARSHIPS these students are basically the untouchables. Students that come into the academy with scholarships are generally from low-income families but are allowed entry because they possess a skill that the school board found would be beneficial to the school's image. However, these students are shunned by those in the upper rankings who believe they don't belong there, that it is unfair. These are the students that are generally bullied, picked on, excluded by the students. Their GPAs are broadly ranged and do not count towards their status.
