South Korea's Suneung Exam Chief Resigns Amid English Test Uproar
The head of South Korea's notoriously challenging college entrance exam, known as Suneung, has stepped down following a storm of criticism over the "insane" difficulty of this year's English section. Oh Seung-geol, who led the Suneung administration, took responsibility for the widespread "chaos" caused by the test.
He acknowledged that the questions' difficulty was "inappropriate," admitting the exam "fell short" despite undergoing multiple editing rounds. The English test, an 70-minute segment featuring 45 questions, proved exceptionally tough, with only just over 3% of test-takers achieving the highest grade this year, a stark drop from 6% last year.
The English Test Under Scrutiny
Among the questions drawing the most flak were one delving into Immanuel Kant's philosophy of law and another incorporating complex gaming jargon, worth three points, requiring students to accurately place a sentence within a given paragraph. Many criticized the convoluted phrasing, with online users branding it "fancy smart talking" and "awful writing" that failed to convey concepts clearly.
While students like Im Na-hye from Hanyeong High School found the texts tricky and answer options deceptively similar, some experts believe the issue isn't impossibility but rather maddening confusion. Professor Jung Chae-kwan, an English language expert who previously worked at the Suneung administrative body, argues the test's structure forces teachers to prioritize "test-taking hacks" over genuine English education, suggesting that students can often guess answers without full comprehension.
Concerns were also raised about passages being excerpts from books, such as Steve Swink's 'Game Feel', taken out of their original context, thus making them harder to interpret. Conversely, English literature professor Kim Soo-yeon of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies defends the difficulty, stating it effectively assesses university-level reading comprehension and specialized knowledge.
The Broader Impact of Suneung
Held every November, the Suneung is an eight-hour academic marathon that holds immense sway over a student's future, impacting university admissions, job prospects, income, and even personal relationships. It's a national event that brings much of South Korea to a halt – construction ceases, planes are grounded, and military drills are suspended to ensure an optimal testing environment.
Children often begin preparing for this monumental exam from a young age, with some attending private "cram schools" from as early as four. Historically, leading the Suneung has been a high-pressure role; only four of the twelve chiefs since its 1993 debut have completed their full three-year terms. While most prior resignations were due to question errors, Mr. Oh's departure marks the first time a Suneung chief has resigned specifically over the test's perceived difficulty.