[Report] "All I can do is pray"... Families desperate 100 days before the CSAT

[Financial News]"There's nothing I can do but pray on their behalf."
On the 5th, at the front of the Daeungjeon Hall of Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Mr. Lee (77), who was praying with clasped hands for his granddaughter, said this. Mr. Lee said, "Since my granddaughter became a test taker, I haven't seen her face once," and "It must be hard because of the heat, but I want to make her delicious food once the CSAT is over."
As the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test approached 100 days, Jogyesa Temple was crowded with the families of test takers. A screen inside the Daeungjeon Hall displayed the names of the test takers. In the sweltering heat of 33 degrees Celsius, families continuously bowed and knelt. Those who couldn't enter the Daeungjeon Hall wiped their sweat outside but still clasped their hands and bowed their heads, praying for high scores and acceptance in the CSAT.
Jogyesa Temple has been conducting the '111-day Hwaeom Seongjung Prayer' for academic achievement every day from around 2 PM since the 25th of last month. Throughout Jogyesa Temple, one could find items filled with the earnest wishes of the test takers' families. Families standing under the lanterns hung wish papers with phrases related to the CSAT, such as 'university acceptance', 'high scores', and 'CSAT jackpot'. Specific goals, such as the name of a particular university and department, or wishes like 'let me take the exam without regrets', were also included.
Families visiting Jogyesa Temple that day prayed for their children to prepare for the exam healthily in the remaining period. Mr. Park (53) from Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, said, "I'm proud and thankful for my child who studies hard without even attending an academy," and "I feel sorry for waking them up every day when they're tired, but I hope they can muster a little more strength," he said, tearing up. He added, "I hope the CSAT ends soon so that my child can enjoy their youth and live happily."
There was also a test taker who came to pray with their family with a desperate heart. Mr. Lee (18), who visited Jogyesa Temple with his parents, said, "I'm preparing mainly for the early admission process, but I've never felt at ease because of worries about my GPA," and "I want to study without regrets in the remaining time and go on vacation with my family next summer."
Some test takers' families expressed concerns that this year's entrance exam would be even more competitive. This year's CSAT is expected to see an increase of nearly 30,000 students due to the golden pig year effect of 2007, when the birth rate rose, and the restoration of medical school quotas to their original size, raising the barrier to entry into top-tier universities. According to the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, more than 500,000 test takers took the June mock test held on June 4th. It is the largest scale since the official announcement of related statistics began in 2011.
Mr. Kim (58), who has a child preparing for the college entrance exam while on a leave of absence from university, said, "My child feels a lot of pressure thinking they have to achieve grades in a short time," and "I don't know what to say to give them strength when they worry about whether they can do better than last year's CSAT," he lamented.
Mr. Lim (56), who has two test-taking children including a repeat student, said, "The number of students who can go to good universities is fixed, and the admission policy changes every year, making the children anxious," and "Although I comfort them by saying everyone is in the same difficult situation, parents also feel uneasy," he said. He added, "I hope they don't carry too much burden and just give their all until the end."


jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yun reporter