A South Korean appellate court has upheld state liability for a 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) incident in which the exam-ending bell rang one minute early.

The court increased compensation for affected students compared to the first ruling.


What Happened

During the Korean language section of the 2024 CSAT on November 16, 2023, at Kyungdong High School in Seoul,

The end-of-exam bell rang one minute too early due to a manual timing error by a proctor.

After the second exam period, the school allowed students an additional 1 minute and 30 seconds to transfer answers to their answer sheets.


Who Sued

Students who took the exam at Kyungdong High School filed a state compensation lawsuit against the government.

The case was based on the claim that the premature bell caused serious confusion and psychological distress during a critical national exam.


Court Rulings

First Instance (Trial Court)

Recognized state liability.

Awarded KRW 1–3 million per student.


Second Instance (High Court)

Upheld the state’s responsibility.

Ordered the state to pay an additional KRW 2 million per student.

Total compensation now stands at KRW 3–5 million per student.



Why Compensation Was Increased

The court emphasized:

– The exceptional importance of the CSAT in a student’s life.

– The young age of the examinees.

– The likelihood that the incident caused significant confusion and anxiety, even if the lost time was short.



What the Court Did Not Accept

The court rejected claims for additional damages, such as:

– Failing to enter a desired university,

– Having to retake the CSAT (one year later),

– Long-term academic or financial losses.


Reason:

Insufficient proof of a direct causal link between the one-minute error and those outcomes.


Key Takeaway

The ruling confirms that procedural errors in national exams can constitute unlawful state conduct warranting compensation.

However, courts will draw a clear line between:

Recognizable emotional distress, which is compensable, and

Speculative future losses, which require strict proof of causation.

Article: https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260102136500004?input=1195m