"Avoiding Gatherings, Staying Indoors"... Parents Anxiously Awaiting Suneung 'D-1'

One Day Before Suneung, Parents Anxious
Reducing External Contacts in Advance Due to Infection Concerns
"Desperate Hearts"... Religious Facilities Also Crowded
Ministry of Education Urges "Refrain from Cheering at School Gates"

On the 15th, three days before the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test, Buddhist believers with examinees are praying at Gilsangsa Temple in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] "I hope everything goes smoothly as usual..."

Ryu Seung-ho (52, pseudonym), a parent of a high school senior living in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, feels anxious one day before the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). Ryu, whose eldest daughter is a test-taker, has not attended any gatherings or appointments for two months to prevent his daughter’s efforts from being wasted due to possible COVID-19 infection. Despite having completed vaccination, he recently stopped exercising, which he used to do regularly. Just like the students who have prepared for this day for a year, parents are also worried. Many parents are trying to behave ‘properly’ out of concern that something unfortunate might happen during the second ‘COVID CSAT.’

Kim Min-hee (47, pseudonym), living in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, not only avoids social gatherings but also has practically handed over the operation of her caf? to part-time workers since recently. Kim said, "Isn’t reducing contact as much as possible the only way to lower the risk?" and added, "My son is a repeat test-taker, so my feelings are even more desperate."

A petition titled ‘Please postpone the CSAT until after the With-Corona period’ was also posted on the Blue House National Petition site. The petitioner stated, "The increase in confirmed cases could harm CSAT students," and "Even if the CSAT is taken separately, there is no remedy for university-specific exams after the CSAT. Please adjust the timing." This petition received over 4,700 signatures.

On the 14th, four days before the College Scholastic Ability Test, a message of support for test-takers was hung at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

As the CSAT approaches, many have visited religious facilities such as temples and churches to pray earnestly. Choi Kyung-jin (49, pseudonym), a parent of a high school senior living in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, said, "After sending my child to the CSAT test site, I decided to pray at a temple with other parents until they come out," and added, "Once the CSAT is over, I plan to let my child do everything they want on that day."

As with last year, those in self-quarantine and confirmed COVID-19 cases are allowed to take the CSAT. Self-quarantined students will take the test at separate test sites set up at 112 locations nationwide, and confirmed cases will take the test at 32 hospitals and residential treatment centers. If a student receives a positive test result or self-quarantine notice from a public health center before the CSAT, they must immediately inform the public health center and the local education office of their CSAT participation status and the confirmation or quarantine notice. This allows them to receive necessary support for taking the CSAT.

The Ministry of Education has requested that people refrain from external contact such as cheering in front of the test site gates and holding events to wish for success on the CSAT day to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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