Latest news with #Suneung
Asia News Network
5 days ago
- General
- Asia News Network
In South Korea, Gangnam students are quitting school, but not their studies
August 11, 2025 SEOUL – Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa, known collectively as Seoul's 'Gangnam 3 districts' and home to South Korea's most competitive school zones, recorded the highest dropout rates among general high schools in the capital last year. According to the Korea Educational Development Institute's regional dropout statistics released Sunday, both Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu posted dropout rates of 2.7 percent in 2024, meaning that two to three out of every 100 students left school before graduation. Songpa-gu followed with 2.1 percent. These figures have risen steadily over the past few years. In Gangnam, the rate increased from 1.4 percent in 2021 to 1.9 percent in 2022, 2.2 percent in 2023, and 2.7 percent last year. Seocho saw a jump from 1.3 percent in 2021 to 2.4 percent in 2022, dipped to 1.8 percent in 2023, then surged again to 2.7 percent in 2024. Songpa entered the 2 percent range in 2023 after holding steady in the 1 percent range in the two years prior. Going all-in on Suneung The primary reason, experts say, is that students in these districts face an exceptionally steep climb to secure top grades at schools. The competition is fierce, and earning a first-tier grade point average is notoriously difficult. A single misstep in a midterm or final exam can make it nearly impossible to recover one's ranking. Rather than remaining in school and risking lower grades, some students opt to withdraw early, take the national qualification exam, which gives them the equivalent of a high school diploma, and focus exclusively on preparing for Suneung, the country's national college entrance exam that students can take only once a year. 'I was ranked near the top in middle school, but after the first high school exams, I dropped to the third tier,' said a student surnamed Kim, a second-year student in Gangnam who left school in March. 'Here, even one wrong move in an exam can ruin your university chances. For me, it made more sense to just focus on the Suneung.' Parents echo that sentiment. 'We didn't want our son to quit school, but staying meant his grades would drag him down in admissions,' said Lee, mother to Kim. 'This way, he can study without the distraction of school activities or grades that don't reflect his real potential.' This strategy appears to be gaining traction. Among this year's incoming freshmen at Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University — the country's most prestigious institutions — 259 students had passed the qualification exam, a 37 percent jump from last year and the highest number in eight years. The trend may accelerate under the five-tier grading system introduced for first-year high school students this year, replacing the previous nine-tier scale. The new system significantly narrows the differentiation among top-performing students, making it harder for elite applicants to stand out. 'In the five-tier system, if you're not in the top 10 percent, you immediately drop into the 11-34 percent range, which is the second tier,' said Im Seong-ho, head of Jongro Academy. 'Students who failed to secure first-tier grades in the first semester are now seriously considering whether to drop out.' Some private academies have already adapted to the demand, offering 'package courses' that combine Suneung preparation with qualification exam study. One more unofficial year of high school For many students in Gangnam and other competitive districts, the three-year high school curriculum is no longer seen as enough to secure a place at a top university. An increasing number expect to spend a 'fourth year' after graduation at specialized private academies devoted solely to Suneung prep. This extra year, often considered part of the academic plan from the outset, comes with a steep price. Intensive one-year Suneung programs at these academies can cost as much as 50 million won ($36,000) in tuition, lodging and related expenses. While some parents see it as a necessary investment in their child's future, critics warn that the pressure-cooker environment, both in school and in the private education market, is driving more students to abandon the standard curriculum altogether, as well as necessary education in socializing and growing up as a member of a society.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Korea Herald
Why Gangnam students are quitting school
Amid intense academic competition, students are dropping out earlier to focus solely on college entrance exam Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa, known collectively as Seoul's 'Gangnam 3 districts' and home to South Korea's most competitive school zones, recorded the highest dropout rates among general high schools in the capital last year. According to the Korea Educational Development Institute's regional dropout statistics released Sunday, both Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu posted dropout rates of 2.7 percent in 2024, meaning that two to three out of every 100 students left school before graduation. Songpa-gu followed with 2.1 percent. These figures have risen steadily over the past few years. In Gangnam, the rate increased from 1.4 percent in 2021 to 1.9 percent in 2022, 2.2 percent in 2023, and 2.7 percent last year. Seocho saw a jump from 1.3 percent in 2021 to 2.4 percent in 2022, dipped to 1.8 percent in 2023, then surged again to 2.7 percent in 2024. Songpa entered the 2 percent range in 2023 after holding steady in the 1 percent range in the two years prior. Going all-in on Suneung The primary reason, experts say, is that students in these districts face an exceptionally steep climb to secure top grades at schools. The competition is fierce, and earning a first-tier grade point average is notoriously difficult. A single misstep in a midterm or final exam can make it nearly impossible to recover one's ranking. Rather than remaining in school and risking lower grades, some students opt to withdraw early, take the national qualification exam, which gives them the equivalent of a high school diploma, and focus exclusively on preparing for Suneung, the country's national college entrance exam that students can take only once a year. 'I was ranked near the top in middle school, but after the first high school exams, I dropped to the third tier,' said a student surnamed Kim, a second-year student in Gangnam who left school in March. 'Here, even one wrong move in an exam can ruin your university chances. For me, it made more sense to just focus on the Suneung.' Parents echo that sentiment. 'We didn't want our son to quit school, but staying meant his grades would drag him down in admissions,' said Lee, mother to Kim. 'This way, he can study without the distraction of school activities or grades that don't reflect his real potential.' This strategy appears to be gaining traction. Among this year's incoming freshmen at Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University — the country's most prestigious institutions — 259 students had passed the qualification exam, a 37 percent jump from last year and the highest number in eight years. The trend may accelerate under the five-tier grading system introduced for first-year high school students this year, replacing the previous nine-tier scale. The new system significantly narrows the differentiation among top-performing students, making it harder for elite applicants to stand out. 'In the five-tier system, if you're not in the top 10 percent, you immediately drop into the 11-34 percent range, which is the second tier,' said Im Seong-ho, head of Jongro Academy. 'Students who failed to secure first-tier grades in the first semester are now seriously considering whether to drop out.' Some private academies have already adapted to the demand, offering 'package courses' that combine Suneung preparation with qualification exam study. One more unofficial year of high school For many students in Gangnam and other competitive districts, the three-year high school curriculum is no longer seen as enough to secure a place at a top university. An increasing number expect to spend a 'fourth year' after graduation at specialized private academies devoted solely to Suneung prep. This extra year, often considered part of the academic plan from the outset, comes with a steep price. Intensive one-year Suneung programs at these academies can cost as much as 50 million won ($36,000) in tuition, lodging and related expenses. While some parents see it as a necessary investment in their child's future, critics warn that the pressure-cooker environment, both in school and in the private education market, is driving more students to abandon the standard curriculum altogether, as well as necessary education in socializing and growing up as a member of a society.
Korea Herald
05-08-2025
- Science
- Korea Herald
100 days to Suneung
The nationally administered College Scholastic Ability Test, known locally as Suneung, is now 100 days away. This year's exam is to take place on Nov. 13 at testing centers across the country. According to education officials, an increasing number of science-track students are choosing social studies subjects — a trend known as the 'social studies run.' As major universities now accept social studies scores to fulfill minimum Suneung requirements for admission next year, students' social studies subject choices may have a greater impact on their overall performance.
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Hyper-competitive classrooms feed the corporate world's narcissist pipeline
When schools prize individual achievement above all else, they shape future leaders who mistake domination for success. Chinese students preparing for the highly competitive National College Entrance Examination, also known as gaokao, in Fuyang, in Anhui province, on May 27. On Nov 14, 2024, South Korea fell silent. Construction sites stopped working, aircraft were rerouted from flight paths and businesses delayed opening. The entire nation held its breath for nine hours while more than 500,000 teenagers took the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSat). The state-administered Suneung, as it is known, determines their university placement and, by extension, their entire future. The pressure on students to succeed has created what experts call a 'life-defining moment', where performance in a single exam determines not just university choices, but job prospects and even marriage potential.
Newsweek
29-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
South Korea's New Government Faces Alarming Social Issue
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The deaths of three high school students in the port city of Busan last week sent ripples through South Korea and brought a mounting crisis back into the spotlight. Last year, a record 221 high, middle, and elementary school students took their own lives—seven more than the previous year and more than twice as many as in 2015, according to a new education ministry survey reported by Yonhap News Agency. Why It Matters South Korea has the highest suicide rate among developed nations. Last year, the rate climbed to a 13-year high of 14.4 cases per 100,000 people, according to data from the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention. While older South Koreans remain most at risk, suicide is now the leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 39. Stagnant wages, soaring rents, and cultural stigma around discussion of mental health have compounded the challenge. Newsweek reached out to the South Korean embassy in Washington, D.C., via emailed request for comment. What To Know The stress of keeping up with grades, anxiety about the future, and conflicts with family and peers are often cited by South Korean adolescents who have considered taking their own lives. Students arrive at the Yeouido Girls High School in Seoul on November 14, 2024, to take the annual College Scholastic Ability Test, known locally as Suneung. Students arrive at the Yeouido Girls High School in Seoul on November 14, 2024, to take the annual College Scholastic Ability Test, known locally as Suneung. Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images A 2020 survey found that nearly one in three middle and high school students had contemplated suicide in the past year due to the academic burden. This same motive was given in the notes left by two of the three high school girls who died after falling from a Busan apartment building Saturday in what police suspect was a group suicide. Middle school students appear to be particularly at risk, accounting for more than half—9,753—of the 17,667 students identified as at risk for suicide in a survey last year by the education ministry. High school students made up another 7,880, with 16 elementary students and 18 from special schools also included in the at-risk group. What People Have Said Lim Myung-ho, professor of psychology at Dankook University, told local newspaper the Joongang Ilbo: "Although the country has made economic progress compared to the past, society has become less livable for young people as competition has intensified and a results-only evaluation structure has become entrenched. "In particular, the development of social media has led to youth being exposed unfiltered to negative incidents, resulting in increased feelings of helplessness, depression, and trauma. The government and society need to take more interest in adolescents both inside and outside of school and strengthen the support infrastructure." What's Next Seoul hopes a raft of new government strategies and programs will help it achieve its goal of cutting the national suicide rate by 30 percent by 2027. The education ministry has also created a screening test in a bid to detect mental health issues early. The screening is currently targeted at students in the first and fourth grades of elementary school, and the first levels of middle and high school.
