Korean teens lean on caffeine as other countries tighten access

Coffee is no longer the only source of caffeine Korean teenagers are discussing during exam season.

Energy drinks, high-caffeine canned beverages and even pills bought from overseas are being compared online for their perceived effects on concentration and alertness.

Teachers say those discussions increasingly mirror what they see in classrooms.

“Many students usually carry at least one energy drink with them.

Those who are studying hard sometimes bring two or three cans, and some also come to s ...