Miri Student Is First S. Korean In Malaysia To Ace SPM

By Danial Martinus • 03 Apr 2026 in News

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A student in Miri, Sarawak has become the first South Korean in Malaysia to ace all 10 of her SPM subjects last year, including Bahasa Malaysia (BM).

Kim Na-eun (17) bagged an A+ for all her subjects, comprising Bahasa Malaysia, English, Moral, History, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Bible Knowledge.

Family in disbelief

“I cried the moment she told me her results. We did not expect her to get straight A+ in all subjects, including Bahasa Malaysia, as she struggled with learning Bahasa Malaysia during her primary school years,” her father, Kim Tae-ho, told The Borneo Post.

Kim’s family moved to Miri from South Korea back in 2013, when Na-eun was just five years old. She began her primary school education at SK St. Columba, where she also moved on to seconday school.

Her father is actually a taekwondo master who teaches children with disabilities.

“My daughter is a fourth Dan black belt (Kukkiwon) in taekwondo and trains every day,” he says. “She also participates in national and international championships. That’s why we are so surprised and proud of her results.”

But its the discipline needed for the martial art that kept Na-eun determined to do well, crediting taekwondo training for helping her endure SPM studies.

“Now that my SPM results are finally out, I plan to take A-Levels before pursuing dentistry,” she says.

“But before that, I am focusing on my training for the upcoming 107th Korea National Sports Festival on 17 October in Jeju Island, South Korea.”