'Star Instructor' Hyun Woojin Denies Trading CSAT Questions: "Just One of Many Sourcing Channels"

Hyun Woojin Indicted on Allegations of Trading Exam Questions with Current Teachers
"No Exclusive Contract... Compensation Paid According to Legal Procedures"
Counters, "Anyone Can Purchase Textbooks by Registering as a Member"

Hyun Woojin, a so-called "star instructor" who has been prosecuted on charges of unfairly trading exam questions with current teachers, has denied the allegations, stating, "It is being reported as if I traded CSAT questions, but that is not true." On December 31, Hyun released a statement on the Megastudy website, explaining, "It was merely one of several channels for sourcing questions, including public calls for submissions and external vendors," and added, "I never paid any premium simply because someone was a teacher."

Hyun Woojin, a prominent private instructor who has been prosecuted on charges of unfairly trading exam questions with an active teacher, has denied the allegations, stating, "Although it is reported as if I traded the CSAT questions, that is not true." Megastudy official website

Hyun further stated, "The teachers who provided the questions were already actively involved in writing commercially available textbooks, and I purchased the questions solely based on their quality." In response to claims that he may have been aware that trading questions with current teachers was illegal, he countered, "There was no exclusive contract, and these teachers were already participating in writing for EBS and commercial publishers or textbooks. Compensation was paid according to legal procedures."

Regarding the controversy over a so-called "private education cartel," Hyun said, "The number of people involved is so small that the term 'cartel' is meaningless," and emphasized, "It was simply one of many question supply channels unrelated to academic or regional ties." He also stated, "Megastudy offers nationwide online education, and anyone can purchase textbooks simply by registering as a member, so the claim that only a specific group benefits is also untrue."

Previously, on December 30, the Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office indicted a total of 46 individuals without detention, including Hyun, another star instructor Jo Jungsik, private education company officials, and former and current teachers, on charges such as violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. Prosecutors believe that from 2020 to 2023, Hyun paid approximately 400 million won to three current teachers in exchange for producing exam questions. Jo is also accused of paying about 80 million won to current teachers and others during the same period in exchange for questions. In addition, Jo faces an additional charge of breach of trust for allegedly requesting questions before the publication of EBS textbooks.

Hyun is known for graduating from Stanford University with a degree in mathematics and beginning his teaching career in 2010 in the Daechi-dong academy district of Gangnam, Seoul. He is recognized as the instructor with the largest number of online students across both liberal arts and science tracks. Jo is an English instructor affiliated with Megastudy and gained public recognition through his appearance on the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block."

In April of last year, the National Office of Investigation of the National Police Agency announced the results of its investigation into the private education cartel, referring a total of 100 individuals-including 72 former and current middle and high school teachers and 11 academy instructors-to the prosecution. It is known that a significant number of them were not indicted during the investigation process.