Graduates of Sungkyunkwan University gained significant presence within the government with six of the 24 key officials chosen by President-elect Park Geun-hye sharing the same alma mater.

At seven, Seoul National University graduates are the most numerous among the Cabinet and presidential staff named to date.

Park is a graduate of Sogang University.

Only one alumnus of Korea University, who had disproportionate representation in President Lee Myung-bak’s government, is included among the 24.

Sungkyunkwan University alumni are followed by Korea Military Academy graduates with three taking top posts announced so far, followed by Yonsei University graduates.

The four presidential staff nominated on Monday ― chief of staff Huh Tae-yeol and three presidential secretaries Yoo Min-bong, Kwak Sang-do and Lee Nam-ki ― are all graduates of Sungkyunkwan University.

Huh and Kwak studied law, while Lee Nam-ki studied journalism and Yoo studied public administration. Yoo is also currently a professor of the same subject at Sungkyunkwan University.

In addition, two of the 18 individuals nominated to the Cabinet are Sungkyunkwan graduates. Prime ministerial nominee Chung Hong-won and justice minister nominee Hwang Kyo-ahn studied law at the university.

The large representation of Sungkyunkwan University alumni has caught the attention of the main opposition Democratic United Party who said that it could create biases in the running of state affairs under the Park administration.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)