Short answer: Thursday, November 19, 2026 is Suneung (수능), Korea's national college entrance exam. About 552,000 students sit the test at 1,312 schools nationwide. For one day, the whole country adjusts around them: government offices and many companies start work at 10:00 AM, flights are held during the English listening test, and roads near exam sites are closed to cars. If you live in or are visiting Korea that day, here is what changes and how to plan around it.
Suneung 2026 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, November 19, 2026 |
| Official name | 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (대학수학능력시험, "Suneung") |
| Test takers | 551,864 students |
| Exam sites | 1,312 schools in 85 exam districts |
| Exam hours | 8:40 AM – 5:45 PM (students must be seated by 8:10 AM) |
| Quietest time of day | 1:10 – 1:35 PM (English listening test) |
Why "2027"? The exam is named after the school year it admits students to, so the test held in November 2026 is the 2027 Suneung.
What changes on Suneung day
1. Work starts at 10 AM
The government asks public offices and private companies to push the start of the workday to 10:00 AM or later, so students are not stuck in rush-hour traffic. Public offices follow this; most large companies do too, but it is a request, not a law. Ask your manager or HR by mid-November whether your workplace is joining. In past years, the Korean stock market (KRX) also opened an hour late, at 10:00 AM.
2. Extra subway and bus service in the morning
Seoul-area subways add trains during the student commute window of 6:00 – 8:10 AM. Buses also run more often. If your workplace keeps a 9 AM start, trains may actually be less crowded than usual after 8:10, because many offices start later.
3. Cars cannot get within 200 meters of exam sites
Vehicles are blocked from roughly 200 m around every exam school. Students arriving by car walk the last stretch. If you drive, use a navigation app that shows live closures and avoid routes past high schools between about 6:30 and 8:30 AM. Taxis may also drop you farther away than usual.
4. Flights pause during the English listening test
The English listening section runs from 1:10 to 1:35 PM. During that window, takeoffs and landings are adjusted nationwide so aircraft noise does not interrupt the audio. Last year the transport ministry held departures from about 1:05 to 1:40 PM, kept airborne planes circling above 3 km, and rescheduled around 140 domestic and international flights. Military firing drills also stop.
5. Keep it quiet near schools
Buses and trains slow down and avoid honking near exam sites, and construction sites and event venues are asked to keep noise down. If you live next to a high school, this is not the day for drilling or a loud delivery. Dogs that bark at people walking by are best kept inside in the afternoon.
Suneung exam timetable (for parents and the curious)
| Period | Subject | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | All students seated | by 8:10 AM |
| 1 | Korean | 8:40 – 10:00 |
| 2 | Math | 10:30 – 12:10 |
| Lunch | – | 12:10 – 13:00 |
| 3 | English (listening 13:10 – 13:35) | 13:10 – 14:20 |
| 4 | Korean History, Social Studies / Science | afternoon |
| 5 | Second Foreign Language / Chinese Characters | ends 17:45 |
Students who sit every section leave the building around 6 PM, so expect crowds of families and some traffic near schools again in the early evening.
Your Suneung-day checklist
- Commuters: Confirm with your employer whether you start at 10 AM. If not, leave a little earlier or take the subway instead of driving.
- Drivers: Avoid roads past high schools in the morning; parking near schools will be blocked.
- Travelers: Check any flight between about 12:30 and 2:30 PM for a new departure time. Arrive at the airport with normal buffer time; check-in does not close early.
- Parents of younger kids: Schools used as exam sites (mostly high schools, plus some middle schools) give their own students the day off. Check your school's notice (가정통신문).
- Neighbors of exam schools: Keep noise low, especially 1:10 – 1:35 PM.
- Everyone: If you see a student running late, police officers and volunteers often give rides to exam sites. Calling 112 is the fastest way to get help for a student who is lost or late.
Why the whole country slows down
Suneung scores weigh heavily in university admission, and many families see the result as shaping a young person's future. That is why you will see parents praying at temples and churches, juniors cheering seniors at school gates the day before, and shops selling yeot (sticky taffy) and forks as good-luck gifts. The candy is said to help answers "stick," and the fork helps you "pick" the right one. If a Korean coworker has a child taking the test, a simple "Good luck to your child on Suneung" is a kind gesture.
Frequently asked questions
Is Suneung day a public holiday in Korea?
No. Banks, shops and most businesses are open. Only the start time of work is pushed back, and some schools used as exam sites close for the day.
Will my flight be cancelled on November 19?
Cancellations are rare. Flights around the 1:05 – 1:40 PM window are usually rescheduled by tens of minutes. Your airline will notify you; check its app the day before.
Do foreign companies in Korea also start late?
It is a government request, not a legal requirement. Many foreign companies follow it, but policies differ, so ask HR.
Is the subway free for students on Suneung day?
No, normal fares apply. The change is more frequent trains in the morning, not free rides.
When do students get their scores?
Scores are released in December. After the exam, many shops and attractions run "Suneung discounts" for test takers who show their admission ticket.
Planning winter shopping in Korea after the exam season? See our tourist tax refund guide and the upcoming Korea Grand Sale 2027.
Last checked: November 4, 2026, against the Ministry of Education's Suneung-day support plan (October 20, 2026). Final flight schedules are announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport shortly before the exam. This guide is general information; always follow official notices.
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