On the 29th, TV Chosun's 'Modern Biography - Mystery' featured Na-Na Keum, highlighting her as one of the Harvard alumni who have made Korea proud.
Keum, who graduated early from Gyeongbuk Science High School, initially enrolled in Kyungpook National University School of Medicine. However, her life took a significant turn in 2002 when she was crowned Miss Korea. She eventually dropped out of medical school and, within just five months, gained admission to Harvard University, drawing widespread attention.
Facing the harsh realities of Harvard, Keum struggled with language barriers and had to take English classes to understand her courses. She confessed to enduring days of silent tears in the school's basement, feeling left behind in an unfamiliar environment.
Nevertheless, Keum persevered. She achieved straight A's in her first semester and received the 'Detur Prize,' awarded to the top 10% of students. Her study abroad experience, initially hindered by her lack of English proficiency, ultimately led to her being recognized as a hardworking genius.
Keum later earned a Master's degree in Nutrition from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Harvard University. Since 2017, she has been a professor in the Department of Food Science and Biotechnology at Dongguk University and was recently appointed as the Director of the Institute for Gifted Education.
In a personal milestone, Keum made headlines seven years ago with her secret marriage to Yoon Il-Jung, the chairman of MDI Leisure Development, who is 26 years her senior. The couple held a private wedding at Yoon's Jeju Jungmun CS Hotel, attended only by family members. The hotel, spanning over 13,000 square meters, is known as a filming location for dramas such as 'Secret Garden,' 'I'm Sorry, I Love You,' 'Boys Over Flowers,' and 'Princess Hours.'