[Edaily Starin Reporter KIM HYUNSIK ] Lee Mi-ju, a singer and TV personality formerly of the girl group Lovelyz, shared her views on the prejudices surrounding vocational high schools.

Lee Mi-ju recently participated in the taping of the SBS program “Rewriting the Equation of Success – YoungCk Is on His Way to Work.” “Rewriting the Equation of Success – YoungCk Is on His Way to Work” is a two-part educational program that highlights the stories of young people who are carving out their own paths to success by developing technical skills and expertise early on, amid a shifting landscape of industry and employment driven by the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) and the semiconductor boom.
Lee Mi-ju, a graduate of a vocational high school, commented during the recording on the negative media image surrounding such schools, saying, “Many people think that vocational high schools are full of troublemakers and delinquents.” She went on to emphasize, “My friends were truly upright, hardworking, and sincere. ‘School violence’ is just something you see in dramas.”
Lee Sang-yeop, who had previously transferred from the business administration department to the theater and film department, was impressed by the story of a 21-year-old who graduated from a Meister High School, worked at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and then moved to SK Hynix. “I don’t even remember what I was doing back then,” he said in amazement.
The story of a young man who earned 20 certifications in high school and was hired by Hyundai Motor Company also drew attention. Lee Mi-ju, observing him—who had been laying a solid foundation for his life since his late teens—expressed her interest, saying, “I’d like to introduce him to anyone I know.” So Seul-ji, a Sungkyunkwan University alumna, reflected on her own journey when a young man who loves machines said he wanted to study further in college, remarking, “I didn’t start thinking about what I truly loved until after I entered college.”
Moon Se-yoon, a father of two, took an interest in the success story of a 27-year-old TOSS developer who was recognized for his skills despite not having a college degree. Seeing how this young man, working as a tech lead guiding other developers, was preparing not only for marriage but also to buy a home in Seoul, Moon Se-yoon remarked, “At this point, I think I should send my eldest to a Meister High School and my second child to a Meister Middle School.”
Upon seeing a young man who runs an apple farm while studying plant medicine in college, Lee Mi-ju responded, “Watching today’s segment has made me reflect on myself again.”
Part 1 of “Rewriting the Equation for Success – YoungKk Is on His Way to Work” will air on Sunday, the 18th, at 10:55 a.m.