"Avoiding Seaweed Soup and Grounded Planes"...Foreign Media's Perspective on Korea's CSAT Day

[Financial News] On the day of the 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), foreign media provided detailed coverage of Korean customs such as 'avoiding Miyeok-guk (seaweed soup)' and 'halting air traffic,' highlighting the considerate atmosphere toward test-takers in Korean society.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported on the 13th that "during the English listening section, all flights across South Korea are grounded for 35 minutes, except in emergencies." The agency also noted, "To prevent traffic congestion, banks and government offices require employees to start work an hour later on CSAT day."
The report also explained several Korean superstitions related to the exam.
AFP stated, "There are many taboos on CSAT day in Korea. One of the most well-known is avoiding Miyeok-guk (seaweed soup)," adding, "This superstition stems from the slippery texture of the soup, which is believed to cause students to 'slip' and fail their important exam."
The article described how parents visit nearby churches or temples to pray while their children take the exam, and included an interview with a mother of a test-taker.

This mother told AFP, "I pray while my son is taking the test according to the exam schedule, pause during his breaks, and have lunch when he does."
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that Korean students take the CSAT over eight hours, answering around 200 questions in a marathon-like session.
The BBC also pointed out that visually impaired students must endure a much longer 13-hour exam day compared to their non-disabled peers.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter