Television personality An Sun-young is facing backlash online after revealing that she missed her appointment for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam due to arriving late.
On June 9, An shared her frustration on social media, explaining that she was unable to enter the exam venue because she could not find the parking lot. She stated, "I drove around a one-way street multiple times looking for parking. I arrived before the exam started, but after 8:50 a.m., I was informed that I could not enter."
She added, "The exam fee is 300,000 won, and even though I was there, they wouldn’t let me in. I had cleared my schedule for the day for this exam, and I felt so deflated."
An also tagged the exam's organizing body, expressing disappointment that they did not provide any parking information.
Later, she posted a photo from a café, reflecting, "I should have taken a taxi," and mentioned that venting to the parking staff helped ease her frustration.
According to IELTS regulations, entry is restricted after 8:50 a.m. Due to identity verification and security procedures on exam day, most candidates arrive well in advance of the start time.
As a result, criticism of An has spread across various online communities.
Internet users pointed out, "If it's an important exam, one should consider staying nearby," and "Why expect exceptions when there are rules?" Others noted that her difficulty finding parking was not the responsibility of the exam organizers but rather a lack of preparation on her part.
Another commenter argued, "If some people are turned away for being a few minutes late, it creates a bigger issue if a celebrity is allowed in. Exams should be conducted according to the established rules."
Additional reactions included, "It's common sense to arrive early for important exams," and "By posting this on social media, she only invited criticism," as well as, "It's hard to understand why the exam organizers are being criticized for enforcing the rules rather than the person who broke them."
The IELTS exam is an internationally recognized English proficiency test administered in over 140 countries, known for its strict security and identity verification procedures.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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