Seoul: South Korea will delay the opening of its financial markets by one hour on the day of the college entrance exam, the bourse operator announced Thursday. The decision affects the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), the tech-heavy KOSDAQ markets, and the small business-focused KONEX markets, which will now open at 10 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. on November 13, an hour later than usual.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the delayed market opening aims to alleviate morning rush-hour traffic that could impede students’ timely arrival at exam centers for the annual college entrance exam, commonly referred to as “Suneung.” The exam is a significant event for hundreds of thousands of individuals, primarily high school seniors, as it is considered crucial for their college admissions and future careers.