What is the Suneung, Anyway?
Okay, so for anyone who doesn’t know, let me quickly explain the Suneung, or the CSAT. Imagine the SATs, but on steroids. It’s an eight-hour, nationwide exam that high school seniors take every November. And when I say nationwide, I mean the *entire country* basically shuts down for it. Seriously, construction work pauses, military training is halted, and even airplanes are grounded during the English listening part to make sure there’s no noise. Police cars will literally rush students who are running late to their testing centers. It’s a HUGE deal because your score can determine which university you get into, which then affects your job prospects, income, and even future relationships. Many kids here spend their whole lives, sometimes starting from age four, studying at private academies called ‘hagwons’ just for this one day.
So, What Made This Year’s English Test Go Viral?
This year’s English section was on another level of difficulty. It became a huge talking point when students started saying it was like trying to read an ancient language or just plain “insane.” The news spread like wildfire, and soon, major international media like the BBC were reporting on it, calling our Suneung English “notoriously difficult.”
They even shared some of the questions so people abroad could try them! One question that stumped everyone was a super dense passage about the legal philosophy of the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. Another one used confusing video game jargon about avatars and virtual perception that many people on Reddit called “pretentious wordplay” and “awful writing.” Even native English speakers online said the passages were incredibly confusing. The results speak for themselves: the percentage of students who got the top grade in English was cut in half from last year, dropping to around 3%.
The Aftermath: An Official Resigns
The backlash was so intense that the top official in charge of creating the exam, Oh Seung-geol, actually resigned to take responsibility. This is a pretty big deal because while officials have quit before over errors in the questions, he’s the first one to step down simply because the test was too hard. It just shows how much pressure there is in Korea to make the exam fair and balanced, and this year, many felt they completely missed the mark.
Why is Everyone So Serious About One Test?
I know it might sound wild to see an entire country get so worked up over a test, but the Suneung is deeply tied to our culture. It’s seen as the most critical turning point in a young person’s life. The pressure on students is immense because society tells us this one day will define our success. That’s why when a section is perceived as unfairly difficult or tricky, it causes a huge public outcry. It’s not just about passing a test; for many, it feels like their entire future is on the line. The BBC even called it an event that students spend their “entire lives” preparing for, and honestly, they’re not wrong!
