[Report] Aftermath of the 'Corona Suneung'? Examinees Hidden Away... Quiet Seoul Downtown Areas

Students Rush Home Together "Worried About Testing Positive and Missing Essay and Interview"
Seoul Hongdae, Sillim Station, Gangnam Station Areas All Quiet
Merchants "Significantly Fewer Student Customers Compared to Previous Suneung"

On the afternoon of the 3rd, around 7:30 PM, the streets near Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul, where the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, appeared quieter than usual. Photo by Suhwan Kim, Junior Reporter ksh2054@

[Asia Economy reporters Yoo Byung-don, Kim Su-hwan, Gong Byung-seon, Ryu Tae-min] Students who took the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) amid unprecedented chaos all stayed tightly at home, unlike in previous years. Naturally, the industry’s expected CSAT boom did not materialize.

In the midst of an unprecedented large-scale infectious disease outbreak, students who took the ‘Corona CSAT’ in an unfamiliar environment with masks and desk partitions headed straight home. They were cautious because if they were classified as confirmed cases of COVID-19, they would not be able to take upcoming essay or interview exams.

Students leaving the exam sites unanimously said, “I want to hang out with friends as much as I want, but because of COVID-19, I feel anxious and decided to rest at home,” adding, “The entrance exam is not over yet; interviews and other tests remain, so we worry about becoming confirmed cases.”

At around 7:30 p.m. on the 3rd, the youthful street near Hongik University in Mapo-gu was quieter than usual. It was hard to find students or their families, and only couples or people who appeared to be college students were walking around. Normally, this area would be bustling with students who had finished the CSAT, but due to the cold weather and the impact of COVID-19, even buskers were absent, creating a quiet atmosphere.

Not only the streets but also the shops were equally quiet. An employee at a drugstore, Mr. Lee, said, “Last year, many students visited on CSAT day, but today there were no student customers at all,” lamenting, “Although it is the year-end sale period, the number of customers has dropped by about half compared to before.”

Foot traffic to coin karaoke rooms, mainly frequented by students, also sharply declined. Park, a 65-year-old coin karaoke owner, said, “Usually, many students come in the evening, but today it seems they went straight home,” adding, “Even if they come after dinner, we have to close after 9 p.m., so we cannot accommodate them.”

On the afternoon of the 3rd, around 7:30 PM, the streets near Sundae Town by Sillim Station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, where the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, appeared quieter than usual. Photo by Gong Byung-sun, junior reporter mydillon@

At the same time, the nightlife area near Sundae Town in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, showed a similar situation. Despite being a busy area often visited by middle and high school students, on this day, one in every three houses was deserted. The streets were quiet, and delivery motorcycles were more frequently seen than people.

Mr. Kim, 50, who runs a Sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup) restaurant here, explained, “Nothing much has changed because it’s CSAT day. Usually, there are many student customers at this time every year, but today only two came,” adding, “I gave them cider as a service to acknowledge their hard work.”

Occasionally encountered students did not fully enjoy their freedom either. Choi Min-seong (18, Namgang High School, 3rd year), whom we met at a Dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) restaurant, said, “I came to the restaurant to briefly meet friends and share exam information after the CSAT,” adding, “Because of COVID-19, I’m reluctant to go to PC rooms, so I plan to eat and go straight home.”

It was also difficult to find students near Gangnam Station. The alleys in the busy district were mostly filled with people in their 20s and 30s, while teenagers were nowhere to be seen. Many bars where students are not allowed were empty, and even arcades frequently visited by teenagers were sparsely populated.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, around 7:30 PM, the streets near Gangnam Station in Seoul appeared less crowded than usual during the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test. Photo by Ryu Taemin

So Mo (22), a part-time worker at a coin karaoke near Gangnam Station, said, “Usually, many students visit, but today there were no student customers,” adding, “There were many customers in their 20s, but I didn’t see any middle or high school students at all.”

Health authorities and experts expect that, since the government has focused on CSAT-related quarantine measures, there will be few cases of infection transmission through the exam itself, emphasizing that the period after the CSAT is crucial.

Lee Sang-won, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, “Considering the hard study time, I want to tell students to shake off the pressure and enjoy themselves today, but it is unfortunate that the situation does not allow it,” adding, “Since entrance exams continue after the CSAT, society’s efforts are needed to ensure that the students’ hard work is not wasted. Please refrain from unnecessary gatherings as much as possible.”

Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, also requested, “Given the severe COVID-19 situation in the metropolitan area, please avoid gatherings with friends or long conversations in enclosed restaurants or cafes after the CSAT,” adding, “Not only students who finished the CSAT but also parents may plan family dining out on days like today, but please keep in mind that enclosed environments are risky and refrain from going out.”