1. Introduction to the text
The intense focus on entrance examinations is a defining aspect of the South Korean education system. From an early age, Korean students face immense pressure to perform well on these high-stakes tests, which determine their academic future and, in many ways, their life prospects. This examination culture has deep historical roots and has shaped the nation’s educational landscape for decades.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 입시 | ipssi | entrance examination |
| 수능 | suneung | College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) |
| 사교육 | sagyo-yuk | private tutoring |
| 명문고 | myeongmun-go | prestigious high school |
| 스카이캐슬 | seukai-kaesseul | referring to intense academic competition |
| 과외 | gwao-e | private tutoring |
| 재수생 | jaesu-saeng | a student who takes a year off to prepare for exams |
| 공시생 | gongsi-saeng | a student preparing for government exams |
| hakwon | 학원 | private academy or cram school |
| 절대평가 | jeoldae-pyeongga | absolute evaluation |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
한국 교육 제도에서 입시는 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. / Entrance examinations play a crucial role in the Korean education system.
학생들은 어릴 때부터 대학 입시 준비를 시작하며, 이는 많은 스트레스와 부담을 안겨준다. / Students begin preparing for university entrance exams from a young age, which brings immense stress and pressure.
수능은 대학 입학을 좌우하는 가장 중요한 시험이다. / The College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is the most important exam that determines university admission.
대다수 학생들은 명문대 입학을 위해 과외와 사교육에 의존한다. / Most students rely heavily on private tutoring and cram schools to gain admission to prestigious universities.
일부 학생들은 더 나은 성적을 위해 재수를 선택하기도 한다. / Some students opt to take a gap year, known as “jaesoo,” to improve their scores and chances of admission.
입시 경쟁은 “스카이캐슬” 현상을 낳았으며, 이는 부모들이 자녀 교육에 지나치게 개입하는 모습을 보여준다. / The intense competition for university admissions has led to the “SKY Castle” phenomenon, where parents become overly involved in their children’s education.
정부는 절대평가 제도를 도입하여 입시 부담을 줄이려 노력했지만, 여전히 많은 과제가 남아있다. / The government has attempted to alleviate the pressure by introducing an absolute evaluation system, but significant challenges remain.
4. Reading comprehension questions
1. 한국 교육 제도에서 입시가 왜 중요한 역할을 하는가?
2. 수능은 무엇이며, 그 중요성은 무엇인가?
3. 학생들이 과외와 사교육에 의존하는 이유는 무엇인가?
4. “스카이캐슬” 현상은 무엇을 의미하는가?
5. 정부는 입시 부담을 줄이기 위해 어떤 조치를 취했는가?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The intense focus on entrance examinations in South Korea has deep historical roots dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, when civil service examinations played a crucial role in selecting government officials. This tradition continued during the Japanese colonial period and was reinforced after the Korean War, as education became a pathway for social mobility and economic success.