Suneung, an eight-hour long, highly challenging exam, plays a critical role in determining university admissions, job prospects, and even future relationships in South Korea. This year, over half a million students participated in the Suneung. The controversy arose when the bell signaling the end of the exam rang prematurely at a test center in Seoul during the Korean language section, the first subject of the test. Despite immediate protests from some students, their answer sheets were collected.