'Four-year-old admissions tests' to blame? Depression, anxiety surge among young children in Seoul's Gangnam area

'Four-year-old admissions tests' to blame? Depression, anxiety surge among young children in Seoul's Gangnam area

The number of children aged 9 and under diagnosed with depression or anxiety in Seoul's Gangnam area has more than tripled over the past five years, recent data show. Experts attribute the surge to the mounting stress caused by early private education pressures, symbolized by so-called "4-year-old admissions tests" and "7-year-old admissions tests" — intense level tests for entry into prestigious English and math academies for young children. Ac…