The South Korean government has initiated a significant change to its educational system through the removal of “killer questions” from the Suneung, the Korean equivalent of the SAT.

This change is part of a wider initiative to regulate the burgeoning private education sector, which is thriving despite the declining student population.

“Killer questions”, known for their extreme difficulty and lack of adherence to standard school curriculum, have contributed to immense stress and anxiety for students taking the Suneung.

Their removal is intended to make the Suneung less daunting, allowing students to focus on their strengths without undue anxiety.

This move also seeks to promote fairness and equity in the education system.

Previously, “killer questions” would advantage students with access to private tutoring, creating an uneven playing field.

By eliminating these questions, the exam becomes more accessible to all students regardless of their socio-economic background.

Additionally, these changes aim to discourage rote memorization and encourage critical thinking.

The “killer questions” often required students to solely memorize complex formulas, sidelining the development of analytical skills as students focused more on such difficult questions over honing more broadly applicable critical learning skills.

This revised approach of the Suneung focuses on assessing students’ ability to apply knowledge creatively, rather than mere fact recalling.

This is just one way that South Korea is adapting its standardized testing to be more in line with international practices and global educational trends.

This shift also facilitates Korean students’ applications to universities abroad, where less emphasis is placed on memorizing and more is placed on critical thinking.

Moreover, the government is addressing concerns about the Suneung’s impact on the country’s demographic challenges.

The high stress and anxiety associated with the exam are thought to contribute to South Korea’s low birth rate; the difficult and expensive journey takes its toll on both parents and children alike as, mental health pressures, high costs for private tutoring, and societal expectations worsen stress and the ability to properly raise children.

The Yoon government has stated that making the exam less stressful could potentially help mitigate this issue.

The decision to remove “killer questions” has elicited mixed reactions.

While some view it as a necessary step towards reducing student stress and enhancing fairness, others are concerned it may lower academic standards.

One student expressed confusion and concern, saying, “Just five months before the Suenung, we were informed about the removal of killer questions. It is confusing and disheartening as we have been preparing for a certain style of exam, and now it feels like our efforts are invalidated. A simpler exam could disadvantage both repeaters and current students, as even one mistake could significantly impact our grades.”

Before attending the exam, another student added, ”Even if the difficulty is lowered, a single error could drastically lower our grades. There is a risk that even a minor slip-up in one subject could be more detrimental than beneficial”.

Furthermore, some view these “killer questions” as a way to test students’ “true abilities, not just one that’s easier or covers only basic content”.

While these questions were removed, the Suneung still presented formidable challenges to students with its “tricky” questions.

Critics note that these changes have not significantly lessened the dependence on private tutoring, as students continue to seek external help to navigate the complexities of the modified exam, a damning indictment of the South Korean public education system.

This persistent dependency on private education underscores the deep-seated issues in South Korea’s education system, which extend beyond the mere content of the Suneung and into broader educational culture and the intense competition it fosters.

The reliance on hagwons, criticized for illegal practices such as price fixing, tax evasion, and child abuse, is a symptom of the broader challenges in the education system.

The government’s crackdown on these institutions reflects efforts to alleviate the financial burdens on families while addressing fairness in education.

This backdrop adds to the existing insights from the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), painting a more complex picture of South Korean education.

While the government has taken steps to reduce academic pressure, the societal emphasis on top-tier university admissions and high-quality employment continues to drive intense competition.

The intense competition for high-quality employment in top companies trickles down and is directly linked to the education system, driving the desperate pursuit of attaining top university spots.

This has led to an increasing number of young adults, burdened by educational investments and demands, giving up on finding work that commensurate with their degrees.

In a government survey conducted in June 2023, over 350,000 individuals in their twenties were recorded to be unemployed and not actively seeking jobs.

The long-term effects of this decision remain to be seen, as South Korea continues to balance academic rigor with student well-being and societal needs.

As the government grapples with transforming an education system steeped in competition, the voices of students, educators, and policymakers call for a more holistic approach to reform, valuing creativity and individual potential alongside academic achievement.

Yuna Kim

Grade 9

Taejon Christian International School