It’s different from all previous years’ entries.
The 2026 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in South Korea is fast approaching, prompting beloved K-Pop idols to send their best wishes to the examinees. However, when it comes to K-Pop and CSAT takers, their relationship has historically been a little dicey. The same addictive choruses that make a K-Pop song a chartbuster become “forbidden” melodies for the students for getting stuck in their heads and distracting them from focusing on their exams.
Over time, the concept of “Forbidden Songs” during CSAT has evolved into a yearly meme tradition, and YouTubers generally compile annual lists of these songs.
Early 2010s
Two of the top songs from the early 2010s that still belong to this forbidden list today are SHINee’s “Ring Ding Dong” (2009) and SS501’s “U R Man” (2008). Both songs repeat the same melody multiple times in each chorus, lingering in the listeners’ mind for way too long.
Late 2010s
In the late 2010s, “Pick Me” from Produce 101 (2015) and Rain’s “Gang” (2017) became two of the most well-known forbidden songs. Similar to “Ring Ding Dong,” “Pick Me” also featured a chorus that repeated the same melody and the phrase “Pick me,” getting stuck in people’s heads.
“Gain” however, gained popularity as a meme. Rain’s unique choreography, the old-school synth sound, and repetitive lyrics made it go viral and also gave it the reputation of a forbidden song for CSAT takers.
Early 2020s
In recent years, multiple iconic K-Pop songs have received the honor of being on the CSAT banned list, including BTS’s “Go Go,” SEIB’s “Maratanghuru,” aespa’s “Next Level,” and SEVENTEEN’s “God of Music.” Last year, releases like BIBI’s “Bam Yang Gang” and BLACKPINK Rosé’s “APT” also became a part of this unofficial list.
2025
However, it seems like 2025’s entry into this list might be the most unusual and unexpected. Unlike the previous years, when actual songs made it to the list, this year, a meme has become the “forbidden song.” The track’s name is “Smooth,” created by YouTuber Happy Pizza Bread using voice clips of K-Pop choreographer Kani playfully uttering Korean phrases. The lyrics go, “Smooth, smooth. Flat, flat. Bumpy, bumpy,” paired with a matching choreography. The meme song has gone so viral that artists like SHINee’s Key, LE SSERAFIM’s Yunjin and Chaewon, TWICE members Jeongyeon, Momo, and Jihyo, among others, have already participated in its dance challenge. Netizens have left comments under the song’s original video, announcing that it should be added to the list of banned songs for how dangerously catchy it is.
- “Why did you release this during the CSAT season?!”
- “This belongs to the CSAT forbidden song list.”
- “The fact that tomorrow is the college entrance exam lol.”