At least 39 South Korean students have filed a lawsuit against the state over their university entrance exams ending 90 seconds early. Each of them is demanding 20 million won (about 14,000 euros). According to their lawyer, the error affected the rest of their exams.
The required amount corresponds to the cost of one year of study for re-examination. The entrance exam – known as Suneung – is notorious.
British broadcaster BBC He describes the exam as an eight-hour marathon with tests on different topics. It is considered one of the most difficult exams in the world.
The Sunyeong result is crucial for the South Koreans. Not only does it determine what college they can go to and what job they will get, it also determines future relationships.
Actions taken by the South Korean government also prove that testing is important. During the test, according to BBC For example, closing airspace and postponing the opening of the stock exchange. Everything to ensure that students are able to concentrate well.
The bell rang 90 seconds early for Korean
During the first Sunyeong exam this year – the Korean one – the bell rang 90 seconds early at a testing site in the capital, Seoul, according to the students. Some students immediately protested. However, according to them, their papers were taken by supervisors.
Then the teachers admitted that they had made a mistake. For this reason, students were allowed to work for another minute and a half before the next test began. They were only allowed to fill in the parts that were still blank, not to change the existing answers.
The students said they were so upset that they could not concentrate on the rest of the exam. Some may have gone home instead of having other tests.
The supervisor in charge of the specific test center may have misread the time.
Students previously sued because the bell rang too early. They won the case in April. These students received 7 million won (4,900 euros) because they would have been denied the 2021 Suneung exam because the bell rang about two minutes early.
