"The Current Suneung Exam Is a Serious Problem"… Opposition Also Voices Calls for Suneung Reform

Kim Ki-sik, Director of The Future Research Institute, Reveals via SNS
"Minister Lee Ju-ho Participated in the May 31, 1995 Reform and Was Passive in College Entrance Exam Reform"

As President Yoon Suk-yeol's remarks on the CSAT spark controversy, opposition parties have expressed a firm opinion that this is an opportunity to review the 30 years of the CSAT. While the manner and timing of the remarks are problematic, they argue that the CSAT system itself also needs reform.

On the 19th, Kim Ki-sik, director of The Future Research Institute, stated on his social media (SNS), "The controversy over President Yoon Suk-yeol's CSAT remarks is intensifying. The timing and method were wrong, and demanding immediate implementation just five months before the CSAT this year is very inappropriate," but added, "However, I firmly believe there are serious problems with the current CSAT exam."

On the 26th, at the Seoul Global Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim Ki-sik, Policy Chairman of The Future Institute, exchanged glances with participants at the special committee continuous discussion on income-led growth titled "For a Virtuous Cycle of Fair Economy and Income-Led Growth." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Director Kim said, "Take a look at a CSAT test paper once," and introduced, "Putting aside various issues, simply the passages in the English and Korean exams are too long and difficult, and just reading the passages takes up all the exam time." He continued, "You have to solve the problems skillfully without reading all the passages, but if that's the case, why are the questions made like that?" and remarked, "Therefore, students rely on private education to learn these skills. It is only right to criticize the CSAT for encouraging private education."

He said, "When exams become complicated and difficult, dependence on private education naturally increases," and added, "To develop thinking skills, writing, and speaking abilities, it is more desirable to reduce the time spent preparing for entrance exams and instead spend time reading various materials, experiencing, thinking, writing, and communicating with friends."

Regarding killer questions focused on differentiation, he stated, "Even the past academic aptitude test, which was disparaged as a simple memorization test, was sufficient to secure differentiation," and explained, "The core problem lies in the exam itself and the misconception that children can be changed through the way exam questions are made, which is a thoroughly supplier-centered perspective."

Director Kim said, "The current CSAT needs fundamental reform," and added, "Considering that practically, preparation for college entrance starts from middle school to enter special-purpose high schools and autonomous private high schools, it is desirable to finalize and announce CSAT reforms six years before implementation, and at least finalize them three years before so that students can prepare from high school admission." He expressed his view that "The ongoing controversy, which started anyway, should be handled carefully so that the president's unilateral dominance and political strife do not only produce confusion and conflict, but rather serve as an opportunity to calmly review 30 years of the CSAT and fundamentally reform it."

In a phone interview with this paper, Director Kim said, "Students currently preparing for the CSAT have been preparing for five and a half years including middle school, so causing confusion is unacceptable," but also pointed out, "Just because President Yoon is wrong doesn't mean the CSAT is right. The current CSAT is unreasonable." He analyzed, "The current education, entrance exam, and CSAT system originated from the May 31, 1995 education reform plan led by Lee Myung-hyun, who was the Minister of Education under the Kim Young-sam administration and a standing member of the Education Reform Committee. Minister Lee Ju-ho was a researcher involved in that work at the time," and added, "Minister Lee is inevitably passive about reforming the CSAT and entrance exams as well as the special-purpose high school reforms that aimed to change the high school equalization policy."

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