South Korea’s College Entrance Exam Hell (in Photos)

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The Calm Before the Storm

A therapist hypnotizes students during a meditation session at Deung Yong Moon Boarding School in Kwangju.

These students are preparing to retake the college scholastic ability test (CSAT), also known as the Suneung. This exam determines which colleges they will be able to get into, and to many, the entire trajectory of their lives.

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Study, Study, Study

It’s crunch time for students before they retake the college entrance exams at Deung Yong Moon Boarding School in Kwangju. While school is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., students often put books ahead of sleep, with many staying in the classroom to study until after 10 p.m.

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Only Day on the Calendar

A calendar shows the number of days left before the examination. Some students begin preparing as early as four or five years old. The test is a grueling 10 hours long and covers language, math, science, social sciences, and English.

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Test day

High school underclassmen cheer for their seniors in front of a college entrance examination hall before the test begins in Seoul. Despite the encouragement and enthusiasm immediately before the exam, many steps are taken to ensure test takers are not disturbed during the test. The stock market opens an hour later, flights do not land during listening portions of the test, and no one can park within 200 feet of a testing center.

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Best wishes

Mothers and grandmothers pray for their family member's success at a Buddhist temple in Seoul on test day. Parents make enormous financial sacrifices to ensure their children have the best shot at scoring high on the test.

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

A big day for everyone

A man encourages his daughter before she takes the test in front of an exam hall in Seoul. Some children are sent abroad to perfect their English skills, while fathers stay home to work and fund the investment they’re making in their child’s future.

Photo: Lee Jae-Won /Getty Images

Alarm clock nightmares

A student who is late for the annual entrance exams rushes to the exam hall in Seoul. Students who are late for the test are driven by police escort to ensure they arrive as fast as possible. The stress leading up to the test is grueling, potentially contributing to South Korea having the highest rate of suicide among OECD countries. In 2009, CNN reports, more than 200 students committed suicide.

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Moment of truth

The college entrance exams are just minutes away. A lifetime of preparation has led to this point.

Photo: Lee Jae-Won /Getty Images

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Andrew Freeman is a California native with a degree in history from UCLA. He’s covered a wide range of topics for TakePart, but is particularly interested in politics and policy. Email Andrew |@natureofdabeast | TakePart.com

South Korea’s College Entrance Exam Hell (in Photos)

The Calm Before the Storm

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Study, Study, Study

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Only Day on the Calendar

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Test day

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Best wishes

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

A big day for everyone

Photo: Lee Jae-Won /Getty Images

Alarm clock nightmares

Photo: Kim Hong-Ji/Getty Images

Moment of truth

Photo: Lee Jae-Won /Getty Images

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