With the number of applicants for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) surging, this year’s National Assembly audit is expected to address issues related to the management and supervision of TOPIK, as well as the impact of its privatization.
According to Assemblyman Kim Daesik’s office on October 10, the number of TOPIK applicants over the past five years increased from 218,697 in 2020 to 493,287 last year, representing an approximate 2.3-fold rise. This year, the number of applicants is expected to skyrocket. Due to the global popularity of Korean cultural content such as 'Squid Game' and 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' the number of TOPIK applicants had already reached 553,237 by September of this year, surpassing last year’s total. At this rate, the number of TOPIK applicants is projected to approach 700,000 by the end of the year.
However, as the overwhelming demand cannot be met, various problems have arisen, prompting offices of members from the National Assembly’s Education Committee and Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee to prepare related questions.
Assemblyman Kim Daesik plans to examine the state of management and supervision and the operation system of test centers in relation to the 1,611 cases of misconduct detected in TOPIK over the past five years. He noted that cases undermining the fairness of the exam-such as proxy test-taking and solicitation (137 cases), possession of unauthorized communication devices (488 cases), and forgery or alteration of score certificates (32 cases)-continue to occur.
Assemblyman Kim Seungsoo is also looking into the severe shortage of TOPIK facilities and teachers compared to demand. In particular, although 96% of foreign test-takers are from the Asian continent, there is a shortage of educational facilities and teaching staff for learning Korean in Asia. For example, of the 252 Sejong Institutes worldwide, 141 (56%) are located in Asia, but due to a lack of available spaces, 8,800 prospective students are unable to enroll and remain on waiting lists.
The privatization of TOPIK is also a major issue. TOPIK is a nationally recognized language proficiency test, like TOEFL and JLPT, that measures and evaluates the Korean language skills of overseas Koreans and foreigners whose native language is not Korean. In most countries, such nationally recognized language tests are administered by government agencies.
Currently, TOPIK is administered by the National Institute for International Education under the Ministry of Education, but it is scheduled to be transferred to the private sector as part of the 'Digital Transformation of the Test of Proficiency in Korean-Private Investment Software Project.'
Last April, Assemblywoman Kang Kyungsook pointed out, “From the development of the question bank to administration, scoring, analysis, and even Korean language education, the structure essentially outsources not just the Korean language test but the entire field of education to the private sector.” Civic groups such as the Coalition Against TOPIK Privatization are also calling for a review of the privatization policy, indicating that this topic will be a focal point of discussion during this year’s audit.
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