On Thursday, November 13, 2025, 554,174 students across South Korea took the annual college entrance exam. The number marks the highest in seven years, partly due to the elevated birth rate in 2007, the Year of the Golden Pig. The government implemented measures like flight restrictions and extra subway runs to support the test-takers.
The College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), regarded as one of South Korea's most significant academic events, was administered at 1,310 test centers nationwide from 8:40 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Thursday. According to the education ministry, 554,174 people applied this year, an increase of 31,504 or 6 percent from last year, marking the highest number since 2018. High school seniors make up 67.1 percent of applicants, while graduates account for 28.9 percent.
The surge in test-takers stems largely from the unusually high birth rate in 2007, the Year of the Golden Pig, with most of those born then now in their final year of high school. Competition for top university spots is expected to intensify, particularly for medical schools, following the government's reversal on a quota expansion. Last year, under former President Yoon Suk Yeol's policy to address a doctor shortage, the quota rose by 1,497 slots to 4,610, but the plan's failure led to a return to 3,123 seats.
To accommodate students, the government enacted several measures on exam day. All aircraft takeoffs and landings were banned nationwide from 1:05 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. to reduce noise during the English listening section, with in-flight planes, barring emergencies, required to stay at 3 kilometers or higher under air traffic control. In Seoul, subway services added 29 runs, mainly between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., to aid timely arrivals at test centers. Stock markets, normally open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., delayed opening and closing by one hour to alleviate morning traffic.
On the eve of the exam, November 12, President Lee Jae Myung posted a supportive message on Facebook. "I wish luck for all of you who possess infinite potential," he wrote. "I am proud of each of you who have believed in yourselves and walked this path with perseverance and courage. I wholeheartedly support each of your dreams." Lee emphasized that the exam is not everything in life, urging students to pursue goals with persistence and confidence.
