[Korean Culture & Language] Different Cramming Methods in Korea

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Ranking the highest suicide rate in the OECD, South Korea is notorious for its high-stress professional and educational environments. Staying up late working or studying is the norm. 

Many students feel like their entire life depends on a single college entrance exam, the Suneung. It is held in November every year, and it is so important to not distract the kids from the exam that even planes are grounded on Suneung day. 

Because there are only three colleges that are considered top tier by their potential employers, the exam is extremely competitive. According to Yonhap News, over one-third of middle and high school students considered suicide over the past year due to academic pressures (https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210419007000315)
An alarming 53% of young South Koreans who confessed to feeling suicidal said that poor academic achievement was the major reason for such feelings (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/02/opinion/sunday/south-koreas-education-system-hurts-students.html) They even become physically ill from the stress. Nosebleeds or hair loss is common among high schoolers in Korea.


However, it is a relief to know that they are able to find some humor in hard times, since laughter is a powerful stress-relief medicine that boosts the immune system, decreases pain and stress, and improves energy. Followings are some funny “methods to cram for exams”

1) 엄근진 method. 

엄근진 is one of the latest slangs that’s used to emphasize how “serious” they are. It’s an abbreviation for 엄격(strict), 근엄(solemn), 진지(serious). The meme above reads, “엄근진 method: 엄마가: Mom, 근심이 많다: is so worried (about my academic performance), 진짜: Seriously.

2) Adam Smith Method:

It reads, “The invisible hand is studying for me”. One of the responses reads, “The invisible hand writes an invisible answer”. This was my favorite “method”.

3) René Descartes Method

It reads, “I don’t think about exams. That means exams don’t exist. 


It’s good that these kids find ways to humorize their situation, but even the humor reflects how worried and stressed they are. I wish one day the power of Suneung would almost become ‘invisible,’ so Korean students can enjoy their lives without having to worry too much about it.

 

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