South Korea’s high-stakes college entrance exam, Sooneung, has faced a setback as the Chief Examiner, Lee Ji-hoon, resigned over what he described as an “insane” English test. The incident occurred on November 18, 2021, in Seoul, South Korea. Lee Ji-hoon, who oversaw the exam for three years, expressed his frustration with the English section, claiming it was too difficult and unfair to students.
The English test in question included challenging content that Lee argued did not align with the level of English education in South Korean high schools. He stated that the test focused on topics rarely covered in the curriculum and did not accurately assess the students’ English proficiency. Lee’s resignation has sparked debate among education officials and experts, with some supporting his decision to prioritize the students’ well-being and academic fairness.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Education in South Korea defended the English test, highlighting the importance of maintaining rigorous standards to ensure the quality of higher education in the country. The ministry emphasized that the exam undergoes a rigorous review process to ensure its validity and reliability. They expressed regret over Lee’s resignation but affirmed their commitment to upholding the integrity of the Sooneung exam.
The incident has raised concerns among students and parents about the challenges posed by the college entrance exam system in South Korea. The Sooneung exam holds significant weight in determining students’ future academic and professional opportunities, leading to intense competition and pressure. The debate surrounding the English test reflects broader discussions on education reform and the need to balance academic rigor with student well-being.
Overall, Lee Ji-hoon’s resignation sheds light on the complexities and tensions inherent in South Korea’s highly competitive education system, where the pursuit of excellence can sometimes lead to unintended consequences for students and educators alike.
Sources Analysis:
Lee Ji-hoon – As the Chief Examiner, Lee Ji-hoon may have a vested interest in the content and administration of the Sooneung exam. His resignation could be influenced by personal beliefs or professional considerations related to the exam.
Ministry of Education – The Ministry of Education is directly involved in overseeing the Sooneung exam and ensuring its quality. Their statements may aim to maintain public trust in the exam system and education policies in South Korea.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Chief of S Korea’s high-stakes exam quits over ‘insane’ English test”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.