COVID-19 Suneung D-1... Tomorrow, Quarantine Also Takes the Suneung Exam

Supervisory Quarantine Personnel 120,000
Testing Sites Increased by 10,291 Compared to Last Year

Number of Confirmed Examinees Continues to Rise
Support for 119 Self-Quarantined Individuals' Transportation Provided

On the 2nd, the preliminary gathering day for the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test, students who received their admission tickets at Sunrin Internet High School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, are taking commemorative photos. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) for this year, held amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, is just one day away. Although the number of test-takers this year is about 490,000, the lowest ever, the education authorities are preparing for any eventuality by maximizing the number of supervisors and exam rooms.

On the 2nd, Park Baek-beom, Vice Minister of Education, held a briefing at the Government Sejong Complex and stated, "We have prepared so that all test-takers can safely take the CSAT," adding, "We have prepared more exam sites and rooms than last year, and 120,000 personnel for supervision, management, and disinfection will be deployed for the exam operation."

First, due to social distancing between test-takers and the establishment of separate exam sites for confirmed cases, self-quarantined individuals, and those with symptoms, the number of exam rooms has significantly increased. There are 1,383 exam sites, 198 more than last year, and a total of 31,291 exam rooms, an increase of 10,291. For self-quarantined test-takers, 113 exam sites and 583 exam rooms have been prepared, accommodating a total of 3,775 people. Nationwide, 25 designated hospitals and 4 residential treatment centers where confirmed cases take the exam can accommodate up to 205 people.

Medical staff are working in the COVID-19 situation room at Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 1st, two days before the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test. This space is scheduled to be used as the comprehensive test situation room on the day of the exam. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to set up exclusive test centers for confirmed examinees at Seoul Medical Center and Namsan Living Treatment Center, and 22 exclusive test centers for self-quarantined individuals. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The number of test-takers who have been confirmed positive or are under self-quarantine is on the rise. Vice Minister Park said, "As of the 1st, 37 test-takers nationwide have been confirmed positive," adding, "Among them, 2 did not take the exam, and 35 were assigned to hospitals or residential treatment centers." There are a total of 430 self-quarantined test-takers, of whom 26 did not take the exam. Vice Minister Park added, "Among the remaining 404, exam site assignments have been completed for 387, and arrangements for 17 will be made today," and "We have finalized transportation support methods for the test-takers, including local government vehicles and 119 emergency ambulances, and have informed the test-takers accordingly."

After the CSAT, university-specific evaluations such as interviews and essays will be conducted. While consistent quarantine measures by the education authorities are possible for the CSAT, autonomous compliance with quarantine rules is the only measure for university-specific admissions. The Ministry of Education has advised each university to prepare exam sites divided into eight regions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, confirmed test-takers are highly likely to be unable to attend interviews. Vice Minister Park said, "In the first and second weeks of December, immediately after the CSAT, it is expected that test-takers from across the country will concentrate at universities in the metropolitan area, so the university-specific evaluations could become a factor in spreading regional infections," adding, "Confirmed cases cannot leave hospitals or residential treatment centers, so currently, they cannot attend universities or separate exam sites."