TOPIK: Five-Year Ban for Proxy Test-Taking, Leakage, and ID Forgery

Ministry of Education Announces “TOPIK Reform and Implementation Expansion Plan”

The government has decided to strengthen its response to cheating on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). In particular, acts such as proxy testing, leaking of test questions, and falsification of identification will be regarded as the most serious forms of cheating, with those involved facing a five-year suspension from taking the test.

On September 29, the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education announced the "TOPIK Reform and Implementation Expansion Plan" including these measures.

The response to different types of cheating will also be intensified. First, the types of acceptable identification will be minimized – only physical passports and alien registration cards will be allowed – to prevent proxy test-taking. The use of radio frequency detectors capable of identifying AI-powered glasses and miniature earphones will be expanded, while proctor training will be strengthened to enhance detection and response to cheating during the test. Test questions will be developed to ensure there are no similarities across questions for countries in different time zones, thereby fundamentally blocking cheating that attempts to exploit time differences.

The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education also introduced a plan for AI- and digital-based reform of the TOPIK system.

This year, a "TOPIK Reform Committee" consisting of experts in Korean language education, measurement and assessment, artificial intelligence, and other fields will be established. The reform plan for the TOPIK system will be prepared by June next year, followed by a pilot implementation, and full implementation is scheduled from 2029. In addition, an automated question generation and grading system utilizing AI will be built by 2029. The "TOPIK Home Test," allowing candidates to take the test at home or elsewhere without spatial limitations, will be gradually introduced, starting with lower-level test stages that are not directly used for study abroad or residency purposes.

To meet growing demand, the number of domestic and overseas TOPIK test centers will be expanded to ensure sufficient testing opportunities. Domestically, criteria for new test center participation will be relaxed, and group applications from schools and companies with many students of immigrant backgrounds or foreign workers will be encouraged. Overseas, standards for test center operations and hiring conditions for temporary staff at implementing institutions will be revised to expand test opportunities and lower the burden for administering organizations.

Meanwhile, the TOPIK is the premier Korean proficiency exam, with 566,000 candidates registered annually across 89 countries. In 2027, a total of 15 tests will be administered: 6 paper-based tests (PBT, domestic and abroad), 6 internet-based tests (IBT, domestic and abroad), and 3 speaking assessments (domestic).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.