SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Over half a million South Korean students will sit for a crucial university entrance exam on Thursday, prompting authorities to implement extraordinary measures to ensure optimal testing conditions.
To minimize distractions during the English listening section, flights nationwide will be grounded for approximately 30 minutes in the afternoon. Additionally, drivers have been urged to refrain from honking their horns.
In a unique cultural phenomenon, students are advised to avoid listening to certain K-pop songs before the exam. These catchy tunes, often with repetitive melodies, can linger in the minds of test-takers, potentially hindering their focus. A list of "distracting" songs has circulated online for years, with new additions each year.
Here are some of these songs.
"APT." by BLACKPINK's Rosé
This catch, upbeat song, by Rosé, a member of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK, has instantly garnered global attention, racking up over 320 million views on YouTube in about three weeks since its release late last month.
Inspired by a popular pastime at drinking parties, her collaboration with American pop star Bruno Mars became an unexpected global chart-topper, but it also turned into this year’s most dreaded song, which many test-takers try to avoid hearing.
It is not hard to find grumbles about the song, with comments like "I regret listening to it," "'Rosé should have released the single after the exam," or "I'll never listen to that song until after my exam day," on Orbi, the country's largest online community for students preparing for the annual exam.
"Baby Shark" by Pinkfong
This viral Korean novelty hit, which has garnered over 15.2 billion cumulative views on YouTube so far, has been loved by people worldwide, but at least not by Korean high schoolers.
Since its release in 2016, the ditty, sung by autotuned children with its catchy lyrics "Baby Shark doo doo doo doo," all the way through the shark family, has remained immensely popular not just among kids but also adults across the world. However, many test-takers do not want to hear it, as the onomatopoeia-driven song often distract them.
"Ring Ding Dong" by SHINee
Released in 2009 by boy band SHINee, "Ring Ding Dong" gained notoriety as one of the most iconic songs that students were advised to avoid listening to. The dance song, with its groovy electronic beats, became a "forbidden" track for many test-takers, as its incredibly addictive chorus and simple, easy-to-remember melodies could disrupt their concentration during the exam.
"U R Man" by SS501
This mid-tempo song by boy band SS501 often resurfaces as a pet peeve for some test-takers around this time of year. Released in 2008, the harmonized chorus of the five-member band is pleasing to the ears, but its repetitive hook may become disturbing to some.
Han Sang-won, the song's composer, once said in a TV talk show that his streaming royalties surge every November, in an ironic twist, as his song gains fresh attention each year.
"Dumb Dumb" by Red Velvet
This fast-paced, chant-like song with its staccato rhythms leaves a lasting impression on listeners, making it another song high school seniors should refrain from hearing. The catchy song with repetitive lyrics and energetic vibes became addictive, prompting many test-takers to stay away from it.
When the song was released in 2015, the quintet's member Seulgi hoped it would be catchy enough to be considered "unsuitable" for test-takers, as that would, in turn, prove its popularity. Her wish appears to have come true, as the song resurfaces every exam season.
Meanwhile, of this year's 522,670 test-takers, some 161,784 are retakers, the highest in 21 years since 2004, as a growing number of candidates are seeking admission into medical schools following the government's plans to increase the admission quota for medical students.
Test-takers must arrive at their assigned test venues by 8:10 a.m., 30 minutes before the exam, and no mobile phones or electronic devices are allowed. If they are found with any such devices, their exam scores will be voided.
While the days of college entrance exams in the past have been notorious for bitterly cold weather, often leaving students shivering, this year's temperatures are expected to be fairly mild. But showers are expected in some eastern and southern parts of the country, so students will need to bring an umbrella.
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