Flights temporarily grounded, the stock market opening delayed, and parents visiting shrines to pray – it can only be exam day for South Korea’s high school seniors.
On Thursday (Nov 13), more than half a million students took the nation’s pivotal college entry exam, known as the Suneung. The exam is a critical gateway to top universities, social mobility, career opportunities, and even perceived marital prospects.
To ensure students face no distractions, the South Korean government imposed a 35-minute nationwide flight ban during the English listening test. Banks and public offices were instructed to start work an hour later to ease traffic congestion. A total of 140 flights, including 75 international services, were rescheduled between 1.05 and 1.40pm, the land ministry confirmed.
“I am really nervous, but I’ve prepared as much as I can and will do my best,” said Kim Min-jae, 18, as he arrived at a Seoul test centre. He added that his parents were “even more nervous” than he was.
At schools like Yongsan High School, junior students cheered on the exam-takers with signs and chants, motivating their seniors. Kang Dong-woo, 16, said he came to show support and to inspire himself for his own future Suneung exams.
Superstitions still shape the exam day. Many students avoid seaweed soup, believed to make one “slip” during the test, while parents visit churches and temples to pray for success. Han Yu-na, 50, a mother and tutoring academy owner, followed the exam timetable to offer prayers alongside other parents, pausing and eating in sync with her son’s breaks.
This year also marks a significant policy change: universities are now required to consider a student’s history of school violence when reviewing applications, a move aimed at ensuring accountability for past bullying incidents. More than ten state-run universities reportedly rejected 45 applicants last year over such issues.
The day-long exam continues to be a nationwide spectacle, blending intense academic pressure with cultural rituals and family devotion, highlighting the unique social significance of Suneung in South Korea.
