SMK St Columba’s Kim Na Eun becomes first South Korean in Malaysia to ace all SPM subjects

MIRI (April 1): Kim Na Eun, 17, has become the first South Korean student in Malaysia to score A+ in all 10 subjects she sat for in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2025, including Bahasa Malaysia.

Her father, Kim Taeho, told The Borneo Post that the family was in disbelief when they visited SMK St Columba on Tuesday to collect her results.

“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,” he said.

Na Eun took Bahasa Melayu, English, Moral, History, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Bible Knowledge for SPM 2025.

The family moved from South Korea to Miri in 2013 when Na Eun was five. She began her education at SK St Columba and continued at SMK St Columba for secondary school.

Taeho, a taekwondo master who teaches children with special needs, said his daughter did not rely on tuition outside of school.

“My daughter is a fourth Dan black belt (Kukkiwon) in taekwondo and trains every day.

“She also participates in national and international championships — that’s why we are so surprised and proud of her results,” he said.

Na Eun credited her taekwondo training for helping her endure the rigours of SPM.

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

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