The chief architect of South Korea's rigorous college entrance exam, known as the Suneung, has stepped down following widespread criticism over the English section's challenging nature. Oh Seung-geol, who led the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, resigned after acknowledging the test's failure to meet appropriate difficulty levels, sparking confusion and concern among students and parents.

Exam Difficulty Sparks Outcry

This year's English test, a crucial component of the Suneung, saw only 3% of students achieving the highest grade, marking the lowest success rate since the introduction of absolute grading in 2018. The exam, which is pivotal for gaining admission to prestigious universities and is seen as a gateway to social mobility, included questions on complex topics such as Immanuel Kant's philosophy and the nature of avatars in video games. These questions were criticized for their convoluted wording, with one student describing the experience as "maddeningly confusing."

Controversial Content and Public Reaction

Among the contentious elements was the inclusion of the term "culturtainment," which even the academic who coined it found surprising. Stuart Moss, a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, expressed his astonishment, noting that the term is not widely used in English. The backlash reflects broader concerns about South Korea's education system, where the intense pressure on students is often linked to high rates of teenage depression and suicide.

Institutional Response and Apology

In response to the uproar, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation issued an apology, admitting that the test did not align with the principles of absolute evaluation and failed to reduce students' academic burden. The agency also expressed regret for the confusion caused during the college entrance exam process.