Suneung, Hour by Hour: The Day Korea Stops for One Exam
6-minute video · EpicKor
One Thursday every November, no plane takes off anywhere in Korea for 35 minutes — because of an English listening test. This year it's Thursday, 19 November. We follow Suneung day by the timetable: doors shut at 8:10, police bikes for late students, a stock market that opens an hour late, and the last bell at 5:45.
Read the full guide
Chapters
- 0:00The 35 minutes no plane takes off
- 0:25What the Suneung is
- 0:5808:10 — the morning rush
- 2:1710:00 — the country goes quiet
- 3:0413:05 — the English test and the flight hold
- 3:4217:45 — the last bell
- 5:17If your plane isn't moving
Sources
- Ministry of Education, press releases of 16 August 2024 (exam date) and 21 October 2025 (exam-day support)
- Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE), 2027 CSAT guidelines, application results (8 September 2026) and yearly applicant data
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, flight-control press releases (12 November 2024; 11 November 2025)
- Korean National Police Agency figures for 2024, as reported by Edaily, Newsis and Seoul Shinmun
- Korea Exchange trading hours on exam day, via brokerage notices
