The 2026 CSAT is approaching. The exam will be held on November 13, from 8:40 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at 1,310 testing sites nationwide, with 554,174 test-takers.

Among those heading to the exam halls are idols born in 2007. Han Yu-jin of ZerobaseOne stands out, and despite a year filled with world tours and major global activities, he has kept up with his CSAT preparations. Kyungmin of Tours, Donghyun of Kickflip, and Yoo Sarang of Izna also joined the CSAT lineup, signaling a long-term commitment to balancing studies with their careers.

Debuting with promotions and school life in parallel, they convey a willingness to pursue academics over the long term. By contrast, many peers born in 2007 chose to focus on their careers. Ive’s Lee Seo officially announced that she will not take the CSAT, with Starship Entertainment noting that, after extensive discussion, she will focus on activities for now and consider college later according to the artist’s wishes.

Other idols including Baby Monster’s Ahyeon and Rami, Hats To Hats’ Yuha and Stella, Miyao Narin, Cats Eye’s Yunchae, and Ailit Wonhee reportedly made similar choices. In the past, agencies would reveal idols’ CSAT venues and fans and reporters would gather outside schools, but the industry has moved toward minimizing on-site exposure to avoid congestion and safety issues, and the notion that CSAT attendance is mandatory has waned.

Those who chose to take the CSAT prepared a two-track path, balancing studies and performances, while those who skipped the CSAT pursued a focus track to ride their rising momentum. Both paths lead to the same overarching goal: careful career planning for young idols. Industry observers note the ongoing trend toward flexible career planning in the idols’ trajectories.