South Korea’s annual college entrance English exam, the Sunung, has faced sharp criticism this year for questions that students describe as "like translating an ancient language" or simply "crazy."

The controversy prompted the resignation of the senior official overseeing the exam, who took responsibility for the "confusion" that emerged amid widespread public backlash.

"We sincerely welcome criticism that the difficulty of the questions... is inappropriate," said Sunung chief executive Oh Seung-gyeol. He acknowledged that despite extensive editing, the test "was not appropriate."

Among the most challenging questions were items on Emmanuel Kant’s philosophy of law and a complex word game requiring students to determine the correct placement of sentences within a paragraph.

The Sunung, held each November, is an eight-hour examination that significantly shapes students’ university prospects, career opportunities, income potential, and future trajectory. Since the exam’s inception in 1993, only four of the 12 Sunung officials have completed their full three-year terms.

The exam is a national event that effectively pauses normal life across South Korea. Construction work halts, flights are grounded, and military training is suspended to provide an optimal environment for test-takers.