Exam Taker Submits Withdrawal of 'Essay Test Invalidity' Lawsuit... "Difficult to Achieve Purpose"

Second Exam Passers Announced as Scheduled

Amid controversy over the leakage of exam papers in the 2025 academic year Yonsei University early admission natural sciences essay test, the examinees, who had been engaged in legal disputes with the school, have conveyed their intention to withdraw the lawsuit.

Students who applied for the 2025 academic year early admission comprehensive student record screening (activity excellence type) natural sciences interview oral exam are entering the examination hall. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the legal community, attorney Kim Jeong-seon, the legal representative of the examinees, submitted a withdrawal of lawsuit petition to the court on the 20th, stating that they would withdraw the main lawsuit requesting the invalidation of the first natural sciences essay test at Yonsei University. Since the examinees have expressed their intention to withdraw the lawsuit, Yonsei University plans to organize and announce the school's position.

The examinees explained, "The ruling on the lawsuit to confirm the invalidity of the first test is scheduled for January 9, but since the regular admission registration has already ended, even if the first test is invalidated, it would be difficult to achieve what the examinees want. After discussions, internal opinions were gathered to withdraw the lawsuit, and this opinion was also conveyed to the school."

Earlier, on October 12, during the Yonsei University early admission natural sciences essay test held at a test center, the exam papers were mistakenly distributed by a proctor at 12:55 PM, about an hour before the test started, and were collected about 20 minutes later. After the test, photos of the natural sciences test papers and practice answers for the humanities test, apparently taken by examinees, were shared on online communities, sparking controversy over exam paper leakage.

As the situation worsened, Yonsei University decided to conduct an additional "second test" separate from the first test. The university plans to select 261 successful candidates as originally planned through the first test and to select an additional 261 successful candidates through the second test, confirming all first and second test successful candidates as the 2025 academic year essay admission successful candidates. The results of the second test held on the 8th will be announced on the 26th.

Nevertheless, the examinees argued that the first test should be completely invalidated and that all 261 candidates for this admission track should be selected solely through the second test, citing reasons such as "excluding duplicate successful candidates." Yonsei University countered that even if the first test is invalidated, examinees cannot request a retest or become successful candidates, so the plaintiff has no legal interest to gain through the main lawsuit, deeming it an improper lawsuit.

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