Ministry of Education Seeks Feedback on Digital Transformation of TOPIK

November 13: National Assembly Forum on the Digital Transformation and Future Vision of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)

The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education are seeking feedback from the field ahead of the privatization of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK).

The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education announced on November 12 that, at 10 a.m. on November 13, a National Assembly forum titled "Digital Transformation and Future Vision of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)" will be held in Seminar Room 1 of the National Assembly Members' Office Building. The event is co-hosted by the offices of Assembly members Jin Sunmi, Kim Daesik, Baek Seungah, and Kang Kyungsook.

The Test of Proficiency in Korean, overseen and administered by the National Institute for International Education under the Ministry of Education, is an exam that measures and evaluates the Korean language proficiency of overseas Koreans and foreigners whose native language is not Korean.

From 1997 to 1999, the Korea Research Foundation managed the exam, followed by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation from 1999 to 2010. Since 2011, the National Institute for International Education (formerly the International Education Promotion Institute) has been in charge.

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

The National Institute for International Education, which oversees the Test of Proficiency in Korean, has been promoting the digital transformation of the exam under private leadership through the Ministry of Science and ICT's "private investment software project." However, some Korean language teachers and experts in the field have expressed opposition to the plan for a private-led digital transformation, raising concerns that it could undermine the public nature and credibility of TOPIK as a national exam.

The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education stated that they will carefully consider the diverse feedback raised at this forum, thoroughly review the digital transformation plan for the Test of Proficiency in Korean, and continue to support the promotion of Korean language education overseas from multiple perspectives.

The forum will be broadcast live on the National Institute for International Education's YouTube channel so that anyone can participate.