Lee Cheon-soo's Daughter Passes Prestigious U.S. Gifted Program Test

Lee Cheon-soo, a former South Korean national football player, and his wife, broadcaster Shim Ha-eun, are celebrating as their daughter has successfully passed the test for the Center for Talented Youth (CTY) program sponsored by Johns Hopkins University in the United States. On May 9, Shim Ha-eun shared the news on her social media, expressing her pride and support for her daughter, stating, "Our daughter took the test without any preparation, just to see how she would do, and she passed! I support your dreams!" She also posted a screenshot of the test results on her laptop.

Lee Cheon-soo also congratulated his daughter, saying, "Well done, our daughter! I know how hard you worked. I love you and appreciate your efforts." He added, "It's amazing that you're already thinking about your major and college. I will always pray for you and support you," and expressed gratitude for her independence while he has been busy coaching youth players.

The couple, who married in 2012, have three children: their daughter Joo-eun and fraternal twins Tae-gang and Joo-yul.

To participate in the CTY program, which was established in 1979 to nurture gifted students, candidates must first pass the CTY test. This exam is only available to the top 10% of students in the U.S., and those who pass are recognized as being in the top 5% globally. Notable alumni include Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google.

Students who pass the CTY test can attend a three-week summer camp in the U.S., which is open to elementary through high school students. The program offers courses in subjects such as international politics, American history, leadership and service, essay writing, mathematics, astronomy, biology, and chemistry. It is known for providing opportunities to interact with other high-achieving students and gain insights into attending prestigious universities in the U.S. Recently, it was also reported that the son of singer Jang Yoon-jung and broadcaster Do Kyung-wan passed the CTY test.