CSAT Keywords 'Nsu-saeng' 'Uidae'... Dongduk Women's University Protest Intensifies [AK Radio]

The Most ‘Repeat Test Takers’ in This Year’s College Scholastic Ability Test Amid Medical School Quota Expansion... Examinees Say "We Want Part-Time Jobs"

The 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was held on November 14 at 1,282 testing centers across 85 regions nationwide. This year, over 520,000 examinees took the test, an increase of 18,000 compared to the previous year, and for the first time since COVID-19, the number of examinees per testing room rose to 28. Notably, as this was the first CSAT affected by the controversy over the expansion of medical school quotas, the proportion of repeat test takers, including both current students and graduates, increased significantly. The number of graduate examinees reached 160,000, marking the highest participation in 21 years since 2004.

On the morning of the 14th, when the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was held, examinees were preparing for the exam at the testing site set up at Banpo High School in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Among activities that examinees most want to do after the CSAT, ‘part-time jobs’ ranked first. According to a survey by AlbaCheonguk targeting examinees before the CSAT, 51% of respondents chose part-time work as the activity they most want to do after the exam. The main reasons included gaining economic independence experience, raising tuition or travel expenses, and wanting to experience part-time work itself. Although the minimum wage this year is 9,860 KRW, it is expected to increase to over 10,000 KRW next year, which is likely to encourage more students to enter the part-time job market after the CSAT. In fact, 36% of respondents said they had already started job hunting before the CSAT to prepare for part-time work afterward.

Various discount benefits are also offered to examinees who took the CSAT. Department stores provide up to 20% discounts on some fashion brands for customers presenting their exam admission tickets through the weekend. In the airline industry, Jeju Air and T’way Air offer domestic flight discounts for examinees and their companions. Additionally, popular amusement parks among students such as Lotte World, Everland, and Seoul Land offer entrance fee discounts of up to 70%. Restaurants, cafes, and movie theaters also hold events targeting examinees, providing various benefits. However, concerns have arisen about underage drinking and forged ID issues that may occur after the CSAT. Some youths purchase forged IDs to access bars and entertainment venues, prompting the food service industry to strengthen vigilance against such practices.

On the 14th, the day of the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test, a test taker is praying at Gyeongbok High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Dongduk Women’s University in Turmoil Over Engineering Conversion Discussions... Student Opposition Spreads

On the morning of the 14th, as the campus protests that began after it was reported that Dongduk Women's University was considering transitioning to a coeducational system continued, students held signs reading "The school cannot break us" at Dongduk Women's University in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Dongduk Women’s University is facing controversy over discussions about converting to an engineering school. The discussion, which began among some university officials as part of a mid- to long-term development plan, has sparked strong opposition among current students and alumni. The Dongduk Women’s University Student Council has issued an official statement demanding the school halt any moves to convert the women’s university into an engineering school and has continued strong protests, including occupying the main building.

The university expressed surprise, stating that "there have been no official discussions about engineering conversion." The school emphasized that "only some faculty and staff have mentioned it, but there has been no concrete plan or public discussion stage." However, students, led by the Student Council, continue their firm protests, asserting the need to protect the identity of the women’s university. They declared, "We will not open the school even if it means closure, to preserve the founding purpose of the women’s university and the value of advancing women’s rights," demanding a complete withdrawal of the engineering conversion discussions. Alumni and current students worry about damage to the university’s image. Especially, the cancellation of a scheduled corporate briefing session due to protests has increased dissatisfaction among students and graduates preparing for employment. Some alumni expressed concerns in professional communities, saying, "We worry about the damage to the school’s image" and "It could negatively affect employment prospects."

On the morning of the 14th, as the campus protests that began after it was reported that Dongduk Women's University was considering transitioning to a coeducational system continued, students held signs reading "The school cannot break us" at Dongduk Women's University in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The Dongduk Women’s University issue is expanding beyond internal conflict to a social controversy. In particular, this controversy has raised caution and concerns about the possibility of engineering conversion discussions at other women’s universities such as Sungshin Women’s University and Sookmyung Women’s University. Sungshin Women’s University previously had engineering conversion discussions that were eventually abandoned, and Sookmyung Women’s University failed to admit male students to its general graduate school due to student opposition. Currently, no clear solution is in sight. It is realistically difficult for universities to explicitly declare that engineering conversion is impossible, and the protesters’ firm stance is unlikely to soften easily. The education sector has suggested that this incident calls for a social discussion on the future and role of women’s universities.

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