Flights, military drills, working hours to be adjusted on day of annual college entrance exam

Students prepare for the annual college entrance exam at a high school, Oct. 14. Yonhap

Flight schedules, military drills and working hours of government offices will be adjusted on the day of the annual college entrance exam next month to minimize disturbances to students when they take the high-stakes test, the education ministry said Tuesday.

The education ministry unveiled the measures for the exam, known as "Suneung," on Nov. 13, when 554,174 students will take the test from 8:40 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. across 1,310 testing sites nationwide.

The annual exam is widely regarded as a life-altering event in the country as it determines not only which university students can attend but also the course of their future careers.

Under the measures, the ministry seeks to reduce rush-hour traffic and help students arrive at their testing sites on time by requesting government offices and companies to push back their working hours so that employees begin work at 10 a.m.

It also seeks to increase the number of subway trains operating within the broader capital area from 6 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. and station emergency transportation vehicles to help students get to their testing sites.

During the English listening part of the exam scheduled from 1:10 p.m. to 1:35 p.m., the ministry seeks to restrict takeoffs and landings of planes and helicopters to minimize noise that could disturb test takers.

Military drills that involve artillery firings and movement of tanks will also be put on pause.

"In order for all test-takers to fully demonstrate their abilities, we will provide full support along with other government branches," Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin said.