[Report] The First Ever 'Corona Suneung'... 'Silent Support' Stronger Than Slogans

No Drumming or Loud Cheers at the Exam Site
Students and Parents Greet Calmly
"No Place to Go After Suneung, Heading Home"
Active Support Campaigns Online via YouTube and More

On the 3rd, when the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, a test-taker is heading to the examination hall at Yeouido Girls' High School in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, receiving support from her mother. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Donghoon Jeong, Junior Reporters Juni Park, Daehyun Kim, Junhyeong Lee] "Do your best, son, Mom will come back later~"

At 8 a.m. on the 3rd, in front of Seocho High School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, parents sending off their children heading to the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) exam site spoke in quiet voices and waited. The cheering battles with drumming and shouting from juniors were absent this year.

At the same time, at Yeouido High School in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, three quarantine supervisors wearing protective suits were conducting temperature checks and disinfection in the first-floor lobby about 50 meters from the school gate. Retired teacher Gilkwon Jeong (64), in charge of CSAT management and supervision, said, "We are making thorough preparations and safety measures, such as reducing the number of students per class from 28 to 24," and added, "We will strictly supervise exam proctors to ensure they wear masks."

Examinees and parents showed tense expressions but tried to steady their minds. Yoonmin Jang (46), a parent met in front of Seocho High School, said, "It was a difficult environment as the children always had to study wearing masks and couldn't attend academies, but my child overcame it well," and added, "Our family also refrained from traveling or attending gatherings until the CSAT day and were cautious." Junmo Kang (18), a student from Daeyeong High School taking the exam at Yeouido High School, said calmly, "Having more quiet time to study alone at home was rather an opportunity," and added, "I am worried because the number of confirmed cases might increase after the CSAT, but I think it will be fine as long as we wear masks properly."

On the 3rd, when the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, a test-taker at Yeouido Girls' High School in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, is heading to the exam hall while receiving support from her mother. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Students who tested positive for COVID-19 took the exam at Seoul Medical Center and Seoul Living Treatment Center. Some students who were confirmed positive on the CSAT day were additionally transported to Seoul Medical Center in the morning. Even after the CSAT, students showed efforts to refrain from gatherings due to concerns about COVID-19. Yongmin Shin (18), a third-year student at Gwanak High School, said, "After the CSAT, I plan to eat at a restaurant and head straight home," and a repeat test taker, Juhyung Oh (19, pseudonym), complained, "I made plans, but there is nowhere to go."

Meanwhile, the juniors' cheering events were actively shared online. Online CSAT cheering events on YouTube and social networks (SNS) heated up. Hyehwa Girls' High School in Busan created a CSAT encouragement video with rhythmic movements by juniors including the principal and uploaded it on YouTube. Sungkyunkwan University Broadcasting Station also collected and posted encouragement messages from students, and a YouTuber supported examinees with piano performances. CSAT encouragement messages from trot singer Youngwoong Lim, vocal group Jannabi, and girl group Apink are also recording high view counts.

On the morning of the 3rd, the day of the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), examinees are waiting for the exam to start at the CSAT testing site set up at Seocho High School in Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.