English Test Fee 310,000 Won? ... Soaring Certification Exam Fees [Chosun Price Records]

⑭TOEFL Fee Hits 310,000 KRW Amid Soaring Exchange Rates... Test Fee Up 11%
'Essential for Job Seekers' TOEIC Test Fee Exceeds 50,000 KRW

In the midst of a prolonged high inflation tunnel, the test fees for language exams such as TOEFL and TOEIC have risen significantly, increasing the financial burden on job seekers and office workers. Language exams are essential requirements for university graduation, employment, and promotion, but since the validity period of the scores is only two years, test takers must retake the exams each time and repeatedly take them until they achieve the desired score, causing great frustration among examinees.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

As of the 18th, the TOEFL registration fee is approximately 316,000 KRW.

If you don't have money, you can't even take the test... soaring test fees

Recently, with the won-dollar exchange rate soaring to around 1,400 won, the fee for one TOEFL test has exceeded 310,000 won. TOEFL fees fluctuate according to the dollar exchange rate, and as of the 18th, the TOEFL registration cost is about 316,000 won in Korean currency. The TOEFL fee increased from $200 to $220 in 2022 and has not been raised separately since then. However, considering that the fee was about 280,000 won at the end of last year, the fee has indirectly increased by about 11%. As the dollar remains strong, the burden of TOEFL fees on Korean test takers is growing.

Some language test organizers also raise fees citing increased costs due to inflation. The most common official English test, TOEIC, raised its fee by 9.3% from 48,000 won to 52,500 won on the 15th, the first increase in three years. The Korean History Proficiency Test, classified as another essential qualification for job seekers, raised its fees from the 67th test last year: the advanced level fee increased by 5,000 won to 27,000 won, and the basic level fee increased by 4,000 won to 22,000 won.

Fees for other foreign language certifications are also steadily rising. The Chinese language test, new HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi), which raised fees in 2022, charges between 35,000 and 130,000 won depending on the level. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) costs between 50,000 and 65,000 won. The French language proficiency test DELF charges between 147,000 and 340,000 won. The Russian language proficiency test TORFL requires fees ranging from 160,000 to 220,000 won.

Relatively inexpensive professional certification exam fees have also increased this year. The customs broker exam fee rose from 20,000 won for the combined first and second stages to 30,000 won each. The tax accountant exam fee increased from 30,000 won for the combined first and second stages to 30,000 won each. Since tax accountant candidates can substitute English subjects with official language test scores such as TOEFL, TOEIC, and TEPS, they face double costs for certification exam fees.

A TOEIC test center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The fact that the validity period of official language test scores is only two years also increases the burden on test takers. Language scores such as TOEIC are used for employment, admission, and promotion, but due to the short validity period, retaking the test is necessary, leading to widespread complaints among job seekers. Han Ji-hye (27), an office worker preparing for the TOEIC exam for job change purposes, said, "I don't understand why the announcement date was moved up by a day despite the significant increase in test fees," adding, "TOEIC is a relative evaluation and the difficulty varies each time, so I have to take it multiple times for a high score, which is very burdensome."

Government extends language score validity period... local governments support test fees

As language scores have become essential for career advancement and the burden on job seekers has increased, the government has extended the validity period of scores for some exams. This aims to reduce the economic and time burdens on examinees who had to renew their scores every two years.

The government revised the enforcement decree to extend the TOEIC score validity period from two years to five years for some national qualification exams such as patent attorney, accountant, tax accountant, and labor attorney. Additionally, the 'Pre-registration System for Language Scores,' which allows recognition of scores for up to five years if registered with the Ministry of Personnel Management's Cyber National Examination Center before the expiration of the validity period, has been expanded. Therefore, in local public institution recruitment exams, the recognition period for official language test scores such as TOEIC, JPT (Japanese Proficiency Test), and new HSK has been extended from two years to up to five years.

Some local governments are implementing programs to support certification exam fees for youth. Incheon City supports youth aged 18 to 39 by reimbursing up to 100,000 won once per year within actual expenses for national technical certifications, national professional certifications, nationally recognized private certifications, Korean history, and language exams. Additionally, districts in Seoul such as Geumcheon-gu, Gwangjin-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Jungnang-gu, Yangcheon-gu, and Seongbuk-gu also provide test fee support for unemployed youth.