{
  "id": 7983967,
  "title": "The day I thought 9/11 might cancel my college entrance exam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/the-day-i-thought-9-11-might-cancel-my-college-entrance-exam",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T08:22:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20260917/the-day-i-thought-911-might-cancel-my-college-entrance-exam"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Twenty-five years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, I still reflect on the stark contrast between being present during a catastrophe and experiencing it firsthand. On that fateful day, I was a high school senior in South Korea, watching the events unfold on television. Two towers of the World Trade Center were engulfed in black smoke, and then another plane crashed into the second tower. As the buildings crumbled, I felt a deep sense of fear and uncertainty about the potential consequences. However, another thought crossed my mind: perhaps this tragic event would lead to the cancellation of the college entrance exam, an important test I was scheduled to take in about two months. At that time, America seemed distant, while the exam was just around the corner. Thankfully, my worries were unfounded, as the suneung, the rigorous national exam that heavily influences university admissions, remained unaffected. The next day, I returned to school and resumed studying, determined to pass the exam. Two months later, I sat down to take the test, just as planned. After completing my mandatory military service and returning to university, I had the opportunity to meet an American exchange student named Timothy, who hailed from New York City.",
  "summary": "Twenty-five years after Sept. 11, I still think about the distance between witnessing a catastrophe and living through one. On Sept. 11, 2001, I was a high school senior in Korea. On the television in our classroom, black smoke was rising from the World Trade Center. Then, another plane struck the other tower. Not long afterward, the buildings came down. I was frightened and wondered whether this…",
  "key_points": [
    "Witnessed 9/11 events on TV as high school senior in South Korea",
    "Worried 9/11 might cancel college entrance exam \"suneung\"",
    "Exam proceeded as planned, met American exchange student Timothy"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "The day I thought 9/11 might cancel my college entrance exam",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/the-day-i-thought-9-11-might-cancel-my-college-entrance-exam-7989014",
        "published": "2026-09-17T08:52:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}