It’s that time of the year for South Korea, when everything that distracts youngsters are put to standstill.
On Thursday, Over half a million students took the eight-hour long Suneung university entrance exam. Imagine the intensity of its difficulty, when the government itself put a stop to many things that cause any kind of distraction to the students.
And why not? This exam is crucial in all ways as it shapes the academic and career futures of South Korean. students
Rosé APT banned for being Catchy?
Have you listened to Blackpink’s Rosé and Bruno Mars international phenomenon “APT”? Yes, the Pop song, even it was banned. Some students called this a “forbidden” song, as it has a catchy rhythm, which may could disturb students concentration in taking the test. Many popular Kpop songs have also been banned in earlier years, like Super Juniors Sorry sorry, and many more.
Here’s what a students confessed to BBC, “I’ll be nervous during the test and scared that the song will play in my head, too.”
Here’s what all things were halted.
Interestingly, the planes were grounded, construction was halted, and even any kind of honking was silenced for entire day.
The country is halted to the extent that, while students take the Suneung, commercial establishments, any 7/11 or shops and even the stock market were scheduled to open later to create less traffic, adjustment of public transport.
Security Tighetened
To supervise the exam, over 10,000 police officers were deployed. The police were prepared with ways to ferry students to exam centers if necessary. The English listening sections experienced even flights being grounded and drivers instructed to avoid honking for a silent environment.
Why is this Exam not taken Lightly?
This year many students came to retake exams as alst year the government took a decision to increase medical school admissions. While many hopeful students welcomed the decision and not by the protesting current medical trainees.
Disturbances during Suneung are usually never taken lightly, proven with the fact that last year, when students lost 90 seconds of exam time for which they had filed lawsuits.
This exam remains an example of academic pressure and the determination of South Korea’s young generation taking in concern that Suicide rates in South Korea has been very high!
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