Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

The National Police Agency announced yesterday special transportation plans that will be in place for the College Scholastic Ability Test tomorrow.
More than 10,000 police officers and 6,200 exemplary drivers will be dispatched to test sites to transport students. Also, cars will not be allowed to stop or park within a 200-meter radius of the examination sites. At bus stops and subway stations around the country, police will set up help centers to assist students in arriving on time for the test.
Subways in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon and other cities will run extra trains between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200411/15/200411152236354839900090409041.html

panthermodern · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Taxronto

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Is tomorrow the day for the air-raid sirens?

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

panthermodern · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Taxronto

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Different world, isn't it. Confucian stress on study, and the 'entrance exam'. Needed for civil service positions for example. And the drama, the onus on, pressure on. Calling off the jet fighters is like the opposite of an honourary fly-by, but the same meaning.
I've got these three final year of highschool guys once a week at 2;10 pm before the block shift/usual day. They're heading into the college entrance exam which has some English testing, I guess. Out of High School and zip, straight into college. No break, year off. I asked when the army stint figures in. They didn't want to talk about that, neither did I. Man, their lives are responsible.
Childhood is regarded as a sacred world. Kids aren't disciplined much, especially the boys. Because later, so soon, they'll be towing the line?

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

thorin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

If Kim Jong-il never attacks on test day, why do we even need two air forces here?

Yangkho · Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Location: Honam

And that includes no conversing in English with your friends on the bus or subway.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

I find it one of the more sad days in Korea. Leaves me feeling depressed. Think about it.

Manner of Speaking · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

It's not a test, it's a religion.

Koreabound2004 · Joined: 19 Nov 2003

Today 3 chartered buses came to take the 3rd graders to the city for the big test. I am in a small town/village....so it was a huge event.

Picture it: 3 big buses, all the kids and teachers outside line up alongside the buses, and waved farewell....kinda crazy. They were treated like they were going off to war or something....

Teachers gave "sticky gifts," so that the answers STICK in their brains....

I personally think that nothing can STICK in their brains.....space cadet school, that's where I work....

It was pretty comical..

But I am off tomorrow, so I am happy!!!

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

The exam lasts from 8:40 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. and tests knowledge of Korean, English, math, civics, science, Chinese characters, and a second foreign language. The government has asked workplaces across the nation to adjust their hour for starting work to 10 a.m. today if possible.
Korea Herald
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/11/17/200411170002.asp

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Yeah, it's a small country with way too many people and not enough good jobs. But it strikes me that there is a deliberate cultivating of unneeded stress and competition here.

Those of you teaching in the universities probably know. What are the current rules on application?

When I came, kids had to guesstimate their score before the university entrance exam and apply to only one school and one major based on that guess. If they guessed wrong, they had to wait a year and apply again and take the test again.

Another example is the bar exam. Only X number of people are allowed to become lawyers each year. There is no 'passing score' on the test. I mean, there is no set of core knowledge that is what every lawyer needs to know. Demonstrate competency and you get your license. No. It's all 'beat out everyone else' or no go.

The funniest bit I've heard here is that test day is 'always' the coldest day of the year so far. I'll bet many of you will hear that tomorrow. (Since we are heading into winter, chances are good that each day is a bit cooler than the day before.)