Foreign students have been caught using forged identification and advanced equipment to cheat on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), gaining admission to domestic universities and receiving scholarships. In response, the Education Ministry and the National Institute for International Education are demanding strict penalties, including degree revocation and scholarship recovery, while implementing measures to eradicate organized cheating.
On July 21, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's International Crime Investigation Unit announced the arrest of broker B and the identification of 112 individuals involved in proxy testing and organized cheating using forged IDs at TOPIK test sites. All were charged with obstructing official duties.
According to police, the suspects recruited clients through advertisements on Chinese social media platforms, promising guaranteed high scores on the TOPIK. The brokers allegedly used forged IDs to deceive exam proctors and employed advanced devices like miniature earpieces and transmitters to relay answers during the tests.
The fraudulent scores were misused for meeting admission and graduation requirements at major universities in South Korea, as well as for obtaining scholarships and employment. Police are also pursuing two individuals who supplied equipment to the test-takers and the main organizer in China.
Following the police briefing, the Education Ministry and the National Institute for International Education stated, “We take the organized cheating revealed by the police investigation very seriously and will ensure the integrity of the TOPIK moving forward.”
The ministry plans to apply the principle of strict punishment to all identified cheaters. It will immediately notify the universities of the cheating incidents, prompting them to revoke degrees and recover scholarships.
Additionally, under the Basic Operating Regulations for the Korean Language Proficiency Test, those who request or participate in proxy testing will have their scores invalidated and will be banned from taking the TOPIK for four years.
The National Institute for International Education is preparing measures to prevent cheating. Initially, it will tighten the verification process for valid IDs. In the short term, the types of IDs accepted for the TOPIK will be strictly limited, and those who present forged IDs will face penalties equivalent to those for proxy testing.
Moreover, organized crimes such as proxy testing, question leaks, and the use of advanced devices will be classified as “serious cheating,” leading to significantly increased penalties.
To combat cheating using advanced devices, the National Institute for International Education will introduce detection technology capable of identifying Bluetooth-enabled devices like miniature earpieces and AI glasses. Training on the use of detection devices will be conducted at each test site to enhance on-site supervision.
An Education Ministry official emphasized, “This incident serves as a reminder that no benefits can be gained from scores obtained through cheating, and those involved will face severe consequences.”
On July 21, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's International Crime Investigation Unit announced the arrest of broker B and the identification of 112 individuals involved in proxy testing and organized cheating using forged IDs at TOPIK test sites. All were charged with obstructing official duties.
According to police, the suspects recruited clients through advertisements on Chinese social media platforms, promising guaranteed high scores on the TOPIK. The brokers allegedly used forged IDs to deceive exam proctors and employed advanced devices like miniature earpieces and transmitters to relay answers during the tests.
The fraudulent scores were misused for meeting admission and graduation requirements at major universities in South Korea, as well as for obtaining scholarships and employment. Police are also pursuing two individuals who supplied equipment to the test-takers and the main organizer in China.
Following the police briefing, the Education Ministry and the National Institute for International Education stated, “We take the organized cheating revealed by the police investigation very seriously and will ensure the integrity of the TOPIK moving forward.”
The ministry plans to apply the principle of strict punishment to all identified cheaters. It will immediately notify the universities of the cheating incidents, prompting them to revoke degrees and recover scholarships.
Additionally, under the Basic Operating Regulations for the Korean Language Proficiency Test, those who request or participate in proxy testing will have their scores invalidated and will be banned from taking the TOPIK for four years.
The National Institute for International Education is preparing measures to prevent cheating. Initially, it will tighten the verification process for valid IDs. In the short term, the types of IDs accepted for the TOPIK will be strictly limited, and those who present forged IDs will face penalties equivalent to those for proxy testing.
Moreover, organized crimes such as proxy testing, question leaks, and the use of advanced devices will be classified as “serious cheating,” leading to significantly increased penalties.
To combat cheating using advanced devices, the National Institute for International Education will introduce detection technology capable of identifying Bluetooth-enabled devices like miniature earpieces and AI glasses. Training on the use of detection devices will be conducted at each test site to enhance on-site supervision.
An Education Ministry official emphasized, “This incident serves as a reminder that no benefits can be gained from scores obtained through cheating, and those involved will face severe consequences.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.