Korean airports postponed all takeoffs and landings at airports nationwide for 40 min. yesterday.

But the move wasn’t due to a terror threat or airport incursion. It was designed to give students a low-noise opportunity as they were in the midst of an important college test.

The College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is seen as so important - especially during the 40 min. English language audio section of the 8 hr. marathon examination - that Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) issued a blanket hold on all airport movements from 1300 to 1340 hrs yesterday.

In a statement. MILT said the instruction was designed to “prevent aircraft noise from affecting the language-listening part of the critical exam.”

Around 70 flights, a quarter of them international, had to be rescheduled to comply with the order. A handful of domestic flights were cancelled because of the landing and takeoff ban.

Approaching aircraft were required to stay in a 10,000 ft. or higher holding pattern and at least 3 km from any airport.