In this blog post, I’ve compiled sample personal statements for applicants to the Department of Visual Design at Kookmin University, along with answers to each question (academic effort, campus activities, examples of collaboration, and reasons for applying to the major).

Academic Efforts and Learning Experiences During High School

“A Study Plan with 5-Minute, 40-Minute, and 5-Minute Intervals”
My biggest challenge when studying was fatigue. Preparing for practical art projects late into the night after classes led to chronic fatigue, and after standing for eight hours straight drawing or working on sculpture and modeling projects, I often struggled to even get out of bed the next day. Because of this, I often let precious time at school slip away due to exhaustion. However, realizing that my CSAT scores were also crucial for admission to Kookmin University, I decided to create and follow a study plan.
The method I chose was to divide my time into 5-minute intervals: 5 minutes before studying, 40 minutes during class, and 5 minutes after class. In the 5 minutes before studying, rather than checking my phone or chatting, I would skim through the entire material I was about to cover and try to connect it to what I had learned previously. This helped refresh my memory and clarified the key points I needed to learn during class.
During class, I focused as hard as I could with the mindset of “Let’s just concentrate for 40 minutes,” while still leaving a little room to take in my surroundings—this helped me maximize my concentration within that short timeframe. The five minutes after class were extremely important to me. Since I was short on time due to preparing for practical exams, if I didn’t memorize or review the small details I needed to learn during class right then and there, I would struggle during exams. So I made sure to use those five minutes after class to review what I’d learned that day.
I applied the same approach to evening self-study sessions. While other students studied for four hours at a time, I stayed for only one hour, so I tried to cover as much material as possible within that time as efficiently as I could. Ultimately, I broke that time down into 5-minute, 40-minute, and 5-minute intervals to use it as effectively as possible.

Meaningful Extracurricular Activities During High School

“The sense of pride I felt while cleaning classrooms and the library as part of the volunteer club”
To be honest, the reason I joined the volunteer club was because I wanted to exercise. In my daily life, which consisted of studying all day and drawing, I had almost no time to move my body. Once I actually started volunteering, I found I could move around much more than I had expected. I helped with the school’s weekly deep cleaning and went out to assist whenever extra hands were needed on the playground or at the swimming pool. I also helped clear away food waste after lunch and participated whenever I received a request to clean classrooms, the library, or the study hall.
Through my volunteer work, I witnessed firsthand the efforts of many people working behind the scenes. Those who keep the school clean, those who inspect and resolve facility issues, and those who work up a sweat even in the dead of winter to prepare delicious school meals—their dedication was a great source of inspiration to me. Until then, my designs had focused on color schemes that I personally found pretty and cute, but the emotions I felt upon seeing the deep traces of their lives began to seep into my artwork.
Volunteering also changed my previously competitive mindset. I used to believe that only coming in first mattered in art college admissions, and I’d get stressed if my skills didn’t improve even slightly. But watching people work quietly, even when their hard work went largely unnoticed, taught me humility and consideration. At first, my motivation was somewhat self-centered—I just wanted to get some exercise—but it gradually evolved into service that came from the heart. Even for tasks that went unrecognized, I focused on my actions, and the sense of pride I felt when I finished cleaning perfectly kept me going until the very end.

Examples of Consideration, Sharing, Cooperation, and Conflict Management

At humanities-focused high schools, students planning to major in the arts or physical education in college face various challenges, such as a lack of class time and difficulties balancing their schedules with practical exam preparation. We often had to attend only morning classes before leaving for competitions or practical tests, and it was difficult to find time for written exams due to our practical training. Additionally, during the preparation process, there were times when we felt competitive with one another or our relationships grew distant.
I felt a strong sense of solidarity with my friends who were going through the same situation, so I decided to set aside the idea that we were competitors and offer my help instead. When I received written exam materials, I made copies to share with everyone; when there was homework, we checked it together, and I advised friends who were struggling on how to approach it. At first, some friends were skeptical and asked why I was helping, but as my sincerity became clear, more and more friends began to reach out to me.
As a result, the arts and physical education applicants in our grade—unlike those in other grades—have maintained a close bond to this day. Through this experience, I learned that “helping others pays off,” and from that moment on, I resolved to be the one who offers help first.

Motivation for Choosing My Major and Experiences in Career Exploration

“I believe that the greatest virtue a person should enjoy is ‘beauty.’”
The reason I chose to major in visual design is that I was drawn to the fact that humans are beings who pursue beauty. People do not choose objects simply because they are sturdy or functional. They seek out and consume things that are new and visually appealing—things that have never existed before. By majoring in visual design—a field that will become increasingly important in the future—I wanted to create designs suited to the products and services the world needs. At Kookmin University, I intend to start from the basics, diligently hone my skills, and become a top-tier visual designer.
One experience I had in high school that tested my abilities was managing the bulletin board for a volunteer club. Visual design is not just about making things pretty; it’s also important to convey information clearly and neatly. While decorating the club bulletin board and creating cards to welcome new members, I thought deeply about what makes a design convenient and easy to view from another person’s perspective. As I practiced considering others’ perspectives rather than my own, I found the work enjoyable rather than tiring, and I became convinced that visual design is the right career for me.
Moving forward, I want to continue learning and experimenting to discover the role I can play in the field of visual design.