"I Wanted to Play but Held Back"... COVID Test-Takers 'Staying Home'

Hongdae Streets Quiet After Suneung Ends
Restaurants, Cinemas, Hair Salons Only Display 'Suneung Student Discount' Notices
Suneung Students Say "Even Going to PC Bang Feels Reluctant"

On the evening of the 3rd, the 'Street of Youth' in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul was completely empty.

On the evening of the 3rd, Sundae Alley in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet with few people around.

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungseon Gong, Taemin Ryu, Suhwan Kim] "There are really no people today...." On the evening of the 3rd, Hongdae's 'Youth Street' in Mapo-gu, Seoul, which is usually filled with crowds watching street performances, felt unusually deserted, resembling a 'ghost town.' Large theaters, restaurants, and mobile phone stores had posted 'student discount' notices hoping for a 'CSAT special,' but only employees were quietly guarding the shops. Joo Hyojeong (22, female), an employee at a pizza franchise, said, "It seems like the number of customers is about one-fifth of a usual evening," adding, "Even so, you would expect students who finished the CSAT to come out, but I don't see any at all."

On the evening of the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), major entertainment districts in Seoul were quieter than usual. Adults who worried that the spread of COVID-19 would intensify as students flooded entertainment areas after the exam were left somewhat embarrassed. Given the unprecedented chaos surrounding the CSAT, students headed straight home after finishing the test, and entertainment districts that had hoped for a CSAT boom were effectively 'closed.' Despite 'social distancing' stickers attached to every restaurant seat, many seats remained empty. Park (female, 65), who runs a coin karaoke in Sinchon, Seodaemun-gu, said, "There were only three groups of customers today," adding, "In previous years, many students would come after dinner, but today everyone seems to have gone straight home."

At the same time, the scene at Sundae Alley in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, popular among middle and high school students, was similar. Delivery motorcycles passed more frequently than people on the street, and every other house was so quiet that only flies were buzzing. At one sundae restaurant, only two out of ten tables were occupied by elderly men drinking. The owner, Kim (female, in her 50s), said, "Only two students who said they had just finished the CSAT came by. I gave them drinks as a compliment." Choi Minseong (male, high school senior, Namgang High School), whom we met at a restaurant in Sillim-dong, said, "I met with three friends to share our CSAT results, but I plan to just eat dinner and go home to rest," adding, "Normally, I would go straight to a PC bang, but I decided to hold back because of COVID concerns."

The main road near Gangnam Station was lively with office workers on their way home, but the alleys filled with pubs were quiet from early evening. It was difficult to spot anyone who looked like a test-taker in these alleys. Kim Yeji (19, female), a student retaking the exam who came to Gangnam Station to relieve stress, said, "It feels very different from when last year's CSAT ended," adding, "I'm worried, but I think it will be okay as long as I wear my mask properly."