Cultural Post 3
Many people have asked me about Suneung (수능) and just how intense this exam really is. The College Scholastic Ability Test is an almost eight-hour series of back-to-back exams that can shape the course of a student’s entire life. It not only determines university admission, but can also influence future job opportunities, income level, social networks, and even where someone might live or whom they might marry. Because of this enormous pressure, Suneung is not just a test for students, it is a national event.
Every November, the day of Suneung brings South Korea to a near standstill. A strange quiet settles over cities, especially Seoul. Shops open late, banks adjust their hours, and even the stock market starts later than usual. Construction work pauses to reduce noise, airplanes are temporarily grounded during the listening exam section, and military training exercises are suspended. I remember asking my parents why they were leaving for work later than normal, and they told me this happens every year on Suneung day, so traffic is lighter for students heading to exam centers.
Occasionally, the stillness is broken by the sound of sirens. Police motorbikes race through traffic to escort students who are running late. It’s not uncommon to see a nervous student riding in a police car because they were stuck on the road and couldn’t afford to miss the test. The entire country seems to be working together to make sure no student is late.
While students sit in exam rooms, many parents spend the day praying. Some go to Buddhist temples, others to Christian churches, holding photos of their children. Prayers and bows are sometimes timed to match the exam schedule, as if spiritual support could travel directly into the testing room. I remember that every year, my church held special Suneung prayer sessions from early morning until late at night. The emotional weight of the day is felt far beyond the exam halls.
There are also many unique, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, traditions surrounding Suneung. For example, students avoid eating seaweed soup (miyeok-guk, 미역국) before the exam. Because seaweed is slippery, people say eating it might cause you to “slip” on the test and miss the answers. On the other hand, sticky foods are considered lucky. Students receive sweets and snacks while studying, especially sticky rice cakes, yeot (엿), and mochi. The stickiness symbolizes the hope that they will “stick” to a good university and not slip away from success.
Some traditions are even more creative. In the past, students carried items that represented their dream university for good luck. One well-known example involves the car model name “Sonata.” Some people removed the silver “S” emblem from the back of the car to carry it with them, since “S” stood for Seoul National University. Small actions like this show how desperately families hoped for a good result.
All of these traditions, the silence in the cities, the police escorts, the all-day prayers, and the symbolic foods, reveal how deeply Suneung is woven into Korean society. It is more than an exam; it is a collective moment of anxiety, hope, and national support, where an entire country pauses for the future of its students.
Many people have asked me about Suneung (수능) and just how intense this exam really is. The College Scholastic Ability Test is an almost eight-hour series of back-to-back exams that can shape the course of a student’s entire life. It not only determines university admission, but can also influence future job opportunities, income level, social networks, and even where someone might live or whom they might marry. Because of this enormous pressure, Suneung is not just a test for students, it is a national event.
Every November, the day of Suneung brings South Korea to a near standstill. A strange quiet settles over cities, especially Seoul. Shops open late, banks adjust their hours, and even the stock market starts later than usual. Construction work pauses to reduce noise, airplanes are temporarily grounded during the listening exam section, and military training exercises are suspended. I remember asking my parents why they were leaving for work later than normal, and they told me this happens every year on Suneung day, so traffic is lighter for students heading to exam centers.
Occasionally, the stillness is broken by the sound of sirens. Police motorbikes race through traffic to escort students who are running late. It’s not uncommon to see a nervous student riding in a police car because they were stuck on the road and couldn’t afford to miss the test. The entire country seems to be working together to make sure no student is late.
While students sit in exam rooms, many parents spend the day praying. Some go to Buddhist temples, others to Christian churches, holding photos of their children. Prayers and bows are sometimes timed to match the exam schedule, as if spiritual support could travel directly into the testing room. I remember that every year, my church held special Suneung prayer sessions from early morning until late at night. The emotional weight of the day is felt far beyond the exam halls.
There are also many unique, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, traditions surrounding Suneung. For example, students avoid eating seaweed soup (miyeok-guk, 미역국) before the exam. Because seaweed is slippery, people say eating it might cause you to “slip” on the test and miss the answers. On the other hand, sticky foods are considered lucky. Students receive sweets and snacks while studying, especially sticky rice cakes, yeot (엿), and mochi. The stickiness symbolizes the hope that they will “stick” to a good university and not slip away from success.
Some traditions are even more creative. In the past, students carried items that represented their dream university for good luck. One well-known example involves the car model name “Sonata.” Some people removed the silver “S” emblem from the back of the car to carry it with them, since “S” stood for Seoul National University. Small actions like this show how desperately families hoped for a good result.
All of these traditions, the silence in the cities, the police escorts, the all-day prayers, and the symbolic foods, reveal how deeply Suneung is woven into Korean society. It is more than an exam; it is a collective moment of anxiety, hope, and national support, where an entire country pauses for the future of its students.
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