Results of CSAT Quarantine Management, Issues Affecting Quarantine and Economy... President Moon Urges Thorough Management Including On-site Inspection of CSAT Quarantine
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The reason the Blue House is paying close attention to the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is that it is a variable that will determine the flow of the political landscape in December.
This year's CSAT, scheduled for December 3, will be held at a time when concerns about the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are intensifying. The CSAT is a "major event" that attracts the interest of not only examinees and parents preparing for university admission but also the entire nation in Korean society.
A total of 610,000 people, including 460,000 examinees and 120,000 supervisors and quarantine preparation personnel, will participate in the CSAT schedule. Among the examinees, there are not only those subject to COVID-19 quarantine but also confirmed cases. As Korea conducts a large-scale group exam amid the resurgence of COVID-19, foreign countries are also showing interest.
This is another test of the Moon Jae-in administration's management capabilities. In fact, managing the CSAT is a variable factor that affects not only quarantine but also the economy and public opinion trends. The Blue House is most wary of a scenario where the spread of COVID-19 intensifies as a result of the CSAT. In particular, if COVID-19 infections spread among examinees, it could dampen Korea's status as a quarantine powerhouse.
The fact that the economic outlook is again clouded due to the resurgence of COVID-19 is also a point to watch. This means that the CSAT risk must be managed so that it does not become another adverse factor.
From the Blue House's perspective, the reason the December political landscape is important is that it is the period to complete the blueprint for the new year. The COVID-19 risk is directly linked to the national momentum in 2021. If public opinion is unsettled due to the resurgence of COVID-19, efforts to push forward the national agenda for the new year could be halted before they even begin.
The problem is that the risk will not be completely resolved just because the CSAT day has passed. This is why President Moon Jae-in visited Osan High School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 29th to inspect the CSAT quarantine site.
President Moon urged, "When individual university entrance exams are held, a lot of movement and contact inevitably occur, so I hope the education authorities will do their best to maintain quarantine measures until the very end even after the CSAT."
Meanwhile, it is known that President Moon will also emphasize special caution and attention to CSAT management at the Blue House senior secretaries and aides meeting on the afternoon of the 30th.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
