2023. December 20 – 13:50
A group of South Korean students have filed a lawsuit against the government for giving them 90 seconds less time than required to write a university entrance exam. The students are demanding compensation of 20 million Korean won – which is equivalent to 5,400,000 Hungarian forints – per person, as according to their lawyers, the bell ringing too early seriously affected other parts of the exam.
The bug affected at least 39 students in Seoul, who, during the first part of the test, experienced a Korean language knowledge assessment, where a warning bell sounded to submit each test paper 90 seconds before it was supposed to. Some complained immediately, and the teachers admitted the mistake; The minute and a half was given back to the students during the lunch break – who, however, could no longer correct the answers they had given so far, they could only fill in the blank sections. However, many students became so upset that they could not focus on the next test, and some even gave up and went home.
The person responsible was the exam proctor, who, according to information from South Korea’s public service channel, “overlooked the clock.”
Before our readers leave their flawlessly written entrance exams half an hour early and contemptuously comment that they’re “stupid,” it’s worth familiarizing yourself with South Korea’s admission system. The dreaded system known as Szuneung is an eight-hour Navy training, during which recruits fill out tests covering a wide range of topics one by one. The importance of Szuneung is indicated by the suspension of civil air traffic for the duration of the exam and the suspension of stock exchange operations as well. In addition, the admission score already determines the career opportunities of most young people, as well as their lifelong relationships.
It’s strange to know the risks, but this isn’t the first time the bell has rung too early for college admissions. In April, the court already awarded 7 million won (this amount is about 2 million Hungarian forints) to students whose 2021 exams ended two minutes earlier than they were supposed to. In China, the local court sentenced an inspector who completed the entrance exam in Hunan Province 4 minutes and 48 seconds early to a one-year suspended prison sentence.
