"Mothers Pray for No Apartment Songs"...'Korea SAT' highlighted by foreign media

ⓒYonhap News Agency

While the 2025 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) was held on the 14th, the BBC and other foreign media also paid attention to Korea's CSAT landscape.

The BBC labeled the College Scholastic Ability Test as "Suneung" and reported an article titled, "Inkigayo 'Apartment' is too disturbing for Korean students with extreme stress on the College Scholastic Ability Test."

In particular, the BBC said, "The eight-hour Korean SAT is one of the most difficult tests in the world," adding, "In Korea, you should refrain from taking off, construction, and car horns."

He also noted the fact that "Apartment" sung by Blackpink Rosé and Bruno Mars has emerged as a "no-go song" among students this year.

"This year, the sound that test takers are especially afraid of is Rosé and Bruno Mars' global hit apartment," the BBC said. "The song has emerged as a banned song among students who are concerned that they may lose their concentration during the exam." "Previously, BTS's 'Go Go' SHINee's 'Ring Ding Dong' was repeatedly mentioned as a banned song online," he said.

ⓒYonhap News Agency

The AFP news agency also introduced the "live prayers of Korean parents under pressure" in particular while delivering the CSAT landscape in an article from Seoul.

Parents with children of test takers visited churches or temples and prayed for their children, and they mentioned that the prayer was specific in the Korean language section, such as "Please make it easier to read fingerprints" and "Please make the calculation easier" in the math section.

Some parents visited the temple and delivered the explanation of Monk Won Myung, the governor of Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul, saying that they raised 108 times, and also introduced examples of Yeouido Full Gospel Church, where a live prayer meeting was held on YouTube.

Reporter Park Sun-young of Digital News Team