Number of Applicants Grows 2.5 Times, but Cheating Also on the Rise
Stricter Bans on "Prohibited Items" and "AI Use"
Violations Will Result in Test Invalidation and a Two-Year Ban
Starting next year, measures against cheating on the Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK) will be strengthened. As the Korean Wave (K-Content) continues to grow, more foreigners are seeking to learn Korean, resulting in a 2.5-fold increase in TOPIK applicants over the past five years. However, instances of cheating, such as proxy test-taking, have persisted, prompting the introduction of stricter measures.
According to the Ministry of Education's "2026 Korean Language Proficiency Test Implementation Plan" released on the 26th, cheating regulations will be revised and reinforced beginning next year. All electronic devices will be banned from the test site, and the use of devices equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) translation and writing functions will be prohibited. These changes are based on the "Measures Against Cheating" outlined in "Annex 1-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act" and "Annex 2 of the Basic Operational Regulations for the Korean Language Proficiency Test."
Foreigners taking the Korean Language Proficiency Test. The Asia Business Daily DB.
Foreigners taking the Korean Language Proficiency Test. The Asia Business Daily DB.
First, the rules prohibiting cheating-specifically those that result in test suspension or invalidation-have been strengthened. The previous regulation, which banned possession of electronic devices capable of recording or filming, has been clarified to require all prohibited items (any unauthorized electronic devices or similar devices with recording, filming, communication, payment, storage, charging, or electronic display functions) to be submitted before the start of the first session. Failure to submit these items or storing them in unauthorized locations against the supervisor's instructions will now be explicitly defined as violations.
Additionally, a new "Ta" category has been added to the list of prohibited acts that result in test suspension or invalidation and a two-year ban from taking the exam, which previously ran from "Ga" to "Ka." The new "Ta" category includes possessing or using disguised recording or filming devices, devices equipped with AI translation or writing functions, or using such technologies-including AI translation, writing, or deepfake technologies-during the IBT (Internet-Based Test), as well as manipulating the keyboard or mouse for purposes unrelated to the test. Violations will not only invalidate the test results but also result in a ban from taking the exam for the next two years. This measure aims to raise awareness about the seriousness of AI-assisted cheating.
The number of applicants for the Korean Language Proficiency Test has surged from 218,869 in 2020 to 553,237 as of September this year. The increase is attributed to the growing global popularity of Korean culture, which has driven up demand for learning the language. However, cheating incidents have also risen, highlighting the need for stronger oversight and management.
According to the office of Kim Daesik, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee, there have been a total of 1,611 cases of cheating on the Korean Language Proficiency Test over the past five years. Of these, 137 cases involved proxy test-taking or solicitation, 488 cases involved possession of unauthorized communication devices, and 32 cases involved falsification or alteration of score certificates.
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