In America, the SAT is stressful, but life goes on. In Korea, on the day of the Suneung (CSAT), the entire country stops.
Banks open late. Stock markets open late. Even airplanes are banned from taking off or landing during the English listening test section. Can you imagine JFK Airport shutting down for a high school test?
It sounds like a dystopian movie. But in Korea, it is an annual ritual of respect and pressure.
Welcome to Level 1. Let me tell you about the time I saw a police car rushing… to a high school.
The Level 1 Logs: The Police Escort
Flashback: 2 years ago. November. Morning Rush Hour.
I was walking to the subway. Suddenly, sirens wailed. A police car zoomed past me, running a red light. I thought, “Bank robbery? Murder?”
No. In the back seat sat a teenage girl in a school uniform, looking terrified. Then I saw a police motorcycle carrying a boy. I asked a bystander, “Is there a war?”
He looked at his watch and said, “It’s 8:00 AM. They are late for Suneung. The police are taxiing them.” I was speechless. The police? Helping late students? In my country, you just miss the test and cry.
Enter “Ssam” (The Veteran)
I met Ssam later. The streets felt unusually quiet. “Ssam, the police are acting like Uber drivers for students. Is this normal?”
Ssam nodded solemnly. “Today is not just a test day, Alice. It is Judgement Day.”
He explained the stakes: “For 12 years, these kids studied for this single day. One exam decides their university, their job, and arguably, their future spouse. The whole country helps them because we know the weight they carry.”
Level 3 Wisdom: The Day of Silence
Ssam explained the unwritten rules of Suneung Day.
1. The “Listening Test” Silence
From 1:05 PM to 1:40 PM, South Korea holds its breath.
- Airplanes: All take-offs and landings are suspended nationwide. Planes circle in the sky, waiting.
- Construction: Noise near schools is banned.
- Why: To ensure no student misses a word during the English listening section.
2. Sticky Gifts (Yeot)
You will see people giving students Yeot (Traditional Taffy) or Sticky Rice Cakes (Chapssal-tteok).
- Meaning: To “stick” (pass) the exam.
- Taboo: Never give Seaweed Soup (Miyeok-guk). It is slippery. It means you will slip (fail).
3. The Police Service
If a student is late or stuck in traffic, they can call 112. The police will dispatch a car or motorcycle to escort them to the test center. It is the only day speeding is legally encouraged for a good cause.
Level 4: The Deep Dive (Ssam’s Insight)
(This section is for those who want to understand the “Why” behind the culture.)
Why is Education a Religion in Korea?
You might think this pressure is crazy. But to understand Suneung, you must understand Korean history.
1. The Ladder out of Poverty After the Korean War (1950s), Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. We had no oil, no natural resources. We only had people. Education was the only way to escape poverty. Parents sacrificed everything to send their kids to school. That sacrifice built the “Miracle on the Han River.”
2. The Legacy of the Past Exam (Gwageo) For hundreds of years (Joseon Dynasty), social status wasn’t just determined by blood, but by the State Exam (Gwageo). Passing the exam meant power and honor for the family. This DNA is still alive. Suneung is the modern Gwageo.
3. The Shadow: Competition Today, Korea is rich, but the “Education Fever” remains. It drives innovation, but it also creates immense stress and low birth rates. When you see the police escorting a student, you are seeing a nation’s desperate hope for the next generation’s success. It is beautiful, but it is also heavy.
Alice’s Bottom Line: Silence for the Dreamers
If you are in Korea in November and the streets are quiet, don’t be scared. The country is praying.
Respect the silence. Cheer for the students in your heart. And if you see a police car speeding with a student? Get out of the way.
Survival Hangul: Exam Season
- “수능 대박 나세요! (Suneung Daebak naseyo!)”
- Meaning: “Hit the jackpot on Suneung!” (Good luck).
- “화이팅! (Hwaiting!)”
- Meaning: “Fighting!” (You can do it).
- “찹쌀떡 (Chap-ssal-tteok)”
- Meaning: “Sticky Rice Cake.” (A lucky gift).
Read This Next (Before You Make Another Mistake)
Understand the Korean mindset? Now explore more.
- Why is work life so intense too? The extension of school pressure. [The Hoesik Survival Guide: Drinking with Your Boss]
- Need to relax after all this stress? Find a temple. [Korea Temple Stay Guide: Why I Did 108 Bows]
- Curious about K-Pop training? It’s another kind of exam. [K-Pop Demon Hunters Jinwoo: Anime vs. Real Idol Life]