Examinations

One of the assistants to the English Ed center said her dream was to be a police investigator. She said she spent 7 years studying for the examination. During this period she only studied. She could not work, there were no classes involved. She only studied.

She passed the exam, but after several interviews did not get a job offer. She is now over the age to be hired for this position (34 yrs old). Lost wages and lost youth with no job. The exam was in multiple stages, I don't remember exactly how many. If you pass phase one, then you are invited to phase two, then phase three, etc. Fail at any point and you must retake the entire exam.

What could possibly take 7 years to study for?

As I met a few other people I learned that these examinations are common for careers. There is a teacher's examination that takes 5-7 years to study for. There is an exam for those who want to enter government. Again, similar timeline.

Earlier in life there is an exam that students take in high school that will dictate their future. Their score will determine if they can go to university, and the quality of the university. Perhaps, not so different than the US. However, I am under the impression the Korean exam scores have a far greater effect on one's life.

I am told that this is similar in nature to examinations in Confucian government. In so many words the exam became the goal in life.