More than half a million Korean contestants today took the fierce university exam "Suneung", but it was not the only life and death contest in their lives.

In Seoul, nearly 160 aircraft changed schedules to reduce noise, banks and financial markets started trading later, while public transport was mobilized to the maximum to create favorable conditions. about traffic and environment for the candidates during the exam lasting 9 hours, from 8:40 pm to 5:40 pm.

Instead of operating from 7am to 9pm, the rush hour subway will start running from 6am and end at 10am, 2 hours more than usual. 16,000 taxis operate continuously and more than 800 other vehicles are always ready near the train station, bus stops and key points to help contestants arrive on time for the examination site. Especially, if the candidate asks for it, they will be served for free.

The Suneung exam covers subjects such as Korean geography, morality and thought, law and politics, world history and many other fields. High scores not only demonstrate the ability to study, but also have the meaning to determine the fate of a Korean student.

Students began to practice for Suneung from the age of 13 and 14. During the first year of high school, after class, they continue to the extra classes and cram school for a total of 16 hours a day. Many dream to set foot in top Korean universities such as Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University, three schools often abbreviated by the word "SKY".

There are millions of Koreans like Lee Jin-hyeong forced to continue studying even after graduating. "Every day I study from 9am to 1am the next morning," said Lee, who spends most of his time in classrooms and libraries in Seoul.

At the age of 35, Lee graduated in computer science but has yet to do a full-time job and is studying to serve a civil servant in hopes of becoming a police officer.

In Korea, many intellectual workers in industries such as civil service, design, journalism, and even desirable positions in empires like Samsung, LG and Hyundai, are required to overcome. extensive exams, certificates and many other qualifications.

Minji Kim, 29, said she had passed more than 50 "life-deciding" exams, including Suneung as well as exams for high school, special qualifications and journalism.

"I started these kinds of exams in elementary school," Kim said. "There are exams I know can change my life so I don't dare to go out on weekends because I need to devote all my time to studying."

In August 2015, Kim participated in the first competition in a newspaper. She had to take the test of knowledge in many areas such as society, economy, politics, even Chinese. Kim was also asked to write two essays in two hours and then had to drink alcohol with the employer to evaluate the candidate's attitude.

Kim says these contests can last from several days to several weeks at a time and often cause candidates to suspend other life plans to wait for the next step.

"Some of my friends who live outside of Seoul have to come one day in advance and book a hotel to participate in the competition," Kim said. "Every weekend is the same. It's very expensive and they don't know when it will work, and companies don't pay it."

But even after taking the job, Kim said most of the advancement in professional fields in Korea is forced to compete. South Koreans love standardized exams, which can be viewed as an objective way to assess an individual's proficiency, said Shin Gi-wook, a sociology professor and director of the Korean program at the University. studied at Stanford, USA.

"Koreans value solidarity, so they feel comfortable when people are judged on the same basis to avoid subjectivity and controversy," he said. "The function of exams in modern Korean society is that high test scores prove that a person's level is good, this is the easiest and simplest way to ensure the future of an individual in a socially divided society. floor is obvious like that ".

In the case of Lee Jin-hyeong, he has been taking the civil servant exam up to 4 times per year for many years but still has not achieved the results needed to enter the next round.

"Most people in their 20s and 30s come to the library every day like me, studying to take similar exams to become government officials, police officers, firefighters. I can say about 80% among them are in such a situation, "Lee said. "Most competitions are only one to two times a year. People who don't have enough grades to get into top universities or companies will have to wait another year to retest."

Two-thirds of Koreans aged 25-34 have a university degree, the highest among the member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Like Lee, many of them choose to leave social relationships, dating, and marriage until they find their first job. Unfortunately, this can last a decade.

"Korean society is also very sensitive about age and most companies set an age limit when hiring employees," said Shin. "People who cannot prove their capacity in the job market in their 20s or 30s will have a hard time doing this at a later stage in their lives."

However, many critics have long questioned whether Korea's extreme examination culture is really needed in a society that many call the "Joseon hell", due to lack of flexibility. socially, lack of job opportunities and all feel hopeless, where the unemployment rate aged 15-29 in the first half of 2018 was 11.9%, the highest since 2015.

Moderation is a good thing, says John Lie, professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. "However, learning day and night like in Korea is very terrible for children and has no practical implications for society, whether they care about productivity or happiness.

Experts say that Korea's extreme academic culture has left its youth unprepared for real life. "Young people spend the first 25-30 years of their lives studying for exams and eventually when they step out of the shell into the real world, they realize life is not a test with lots of options and no There must always be a clear answer to every problem, for them it's a mid-life crisis, "Professor Shin said. "Taking the youth to study for one exam after another is about squeezing both physically and mentally."

The obsession with learning is partly due to the Korean Confucian tradition, but it also has a modern historical and social context.

"Education is the main resource for Korean society during the development period," he said. "Koreans believe that without an obsession with education, this nation cannot achieve its current position in the world economy. Education is at the core of Korea's efforts to succeed. ".

Mr. Shin said that the current university enrollment and employment system could be improved, for example by diversifying admission criteria.

"Everything is becoming dysfunctional, a degree disease," Professor Lie said, referring to the high number of people who apply for heavy degrees in an already overcrowded job market.

"Does modern society need mechanics and plumber, cooks and pop stars? Obviously," he said. "Do they need a college degree or advanced certificates? I think not."

Minji Kim, who currently works at a British company, said that although she doesn't have to undergo any tests to be in her current position, she will have to continue studying in the future.

"I don't want to take another test, but I think I will have to take it as long as I live here."