Suneung Day

Imagine a day in your country where things literally come to a halt on an annual basis. Today was such a day in Korea.

Suneung is the Korean version of the SAT. Around here, it's commonly thought to be The Test that determines one's entire future -first one's university options, then job opportunities, and finally marriage partner. 

I had no idea how serious the ramifications of the test were. No wonder the country comes to a grinding halt as high school seniors sit for the exam:

• the stock market opens later
• planes are grounded
• police are everywhere -on hand to drive students who are running late to test centers
• motorists are asked to refrain from honking
• bakeries and confectionery shops prepare special good-luck packages
• churches and temples are flooded with parents praying their kids will achieve a high score -one worthy of entrance into the elite 3:  Seoul National, Korea, and Yonsei (a.k.a. the SKY universities)

This is an education-obsessed environment, and the pressure on these students to perform follows them from elementary school throughout their educational experience. It is relentless and something I witness every day.