[Exclusive] Naver to Manage Korean Language Proficiency Test Taken by 8 Billion People Worldwide

Transfer from Government Agency to Private Company After 28 Years of Administration
Part of the "Profit-Oriented Private Investment Software Project"
Nationally Certified Language Tests Abroad Are Run by Non-Profit Foundations or Government Agencies
Kang Kyung-sook: "Everything from Administration to Scoring and Analysis Is Being Transferred...
Need to Gather Opinions from All Sectors"

The Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK), organized and administered by the National Institute for International Education under the Ministry of Education, will be transferred to a private company after 28 years. This is in stark contrast to other countries where nationally certified language tests are overseen by government agencies or non-profit organizations.

According to Assemblywoman Kang Kyung-sook's office on the 14th, the National Institute for International Education, which manages TOPIK, has selected the Naver consortium as the preferred negotiation partner for the "TOPIK Digital Transformation Private Investment Software Project" and is currently in negotiations.

Korean Book. Photo by Yoon Dongju

TOPIK is a test that measures and evaluates the Korean language proficiency of overseas Koreans and foreigners whose native language is not Korean. It is mainly taken by foreigners as it can be used for admission and graduation of domestic university applicants, employment of those seeking jobs at Korean companies domestically and abroad, and residency status screening. From 1997 to 1999, it was administered by the Korea Research Foundation; from 1999 to 2010, by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE); and since 2011, by the National Institute for International Education (formerly the International Education Promotion Institute).

Last year, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration promoted TOPIK as the "first profit-oriented private investment software (SW) project," creating a pathway for private companies to participate.

The private investment SW project allows private investment in software development projects that were previously fully funded by the national treasury. It was first introduced through a complete revision of the "Software Promotion Act" in January 2020 to enable innovative private technology and capital to be applied to public systems. With private entities investing over 300 billion KRW by 2035 for construction and operation without government financial support, the government expects to reduce the time needed for budget securing procedures and respond swiftly to the rapidly increasing test demand.

Although the aim is to revitalize the Korean language industry through public-private cooperation, concerns have been raised about a private company leading a nationally certified language test amid the surge in TOPIK test takers due to growing global interest in the Korean language.

In its first year of administration in 1997, TOPIK had only 2,692 test takers from four countries, but in 2023, 420,000 people took the test annually across 87 countries. This surge is due to the worldwide interest in K-culture and the increasing number of foreigners wanting to learn Korean. Critics argue that handing over all authority and profits of such a nationally certified language test to a private company is an excessive market-driven approach and unprecedented in overseas cases.

For example, the English national language proficiency test TOEFL is organized and administered by ETS, a non-profit foundation established by the Educational Testing Service, College Board, and Carnegie Foundation. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is overseen by the Japan Foundation established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and administered by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. The German language test (Deutschpr?fungen) is organized and administered by the Goethe-Institut, and the Spanish language test (DELE) is organized by the Spanish Ministry of Education and administered by the Cervantes Institute. All are quasi-governmental organizations. The Chinese language test (HSK) is organized by the Ministry of Education and administered by the Chinese National Hanban, and the French language tests (DELF/DALF) are organized by the French Embassy and administered by the International Education Institute, all handled by government agencies.

The National Institute for International Education stated, "Even after the agreement, private companies will handle technology development and test administration, while the Institute will be responsible for test question creation, score confirmation, and overall management and supervision."

However, concerns have been raised that management could become more vulnerable if a private company administers the test, especially after system failures occurred at 22 test centers across six countries during last month's "6th TOPIK Internet-Based Test (IBT)."

Assemblywoman Kang pointed out, "Contrary to the National Institute for International Education's explanation, the plan effectively transfers everything from question bank development to administration, scoring, analysis, and Korean language learning, encompassing not only the Korean language test but education as a whole." She added, "The Korean language education academic community is deeply concerned about this."

She continued, "The rush to proceed during Deputy Prime Minister Lee Ju-ho's tenure resembles the AI digital textbook project. Since this is an important policy decision for Korean language education in the Republic of Korea, it requires more careful consideration and the gathering of opinions from all sectors."