Korean proficiency test cheaters to face up to 5-year ban

Individuals found to be cheating during the Korean language proficiency examination for non-native speakers will be barred from taking the TOPIK test for up to a five-year period under new regulations anticipated to commence the following year, according to the education ministry's announcement on Tuesday. The revised rules for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) stipulate that those who conduct tests for others, disclose test questions, or employ counterfeit identification will be prohibited from sitting the examination for a span of five years.

The existing regulations imposed a four-year ban on individuals who assist others in taking the test. The forthcoming rules will also prohibit test-takers discovered possessing artificial intelligence (AI) devices from taking the examination for a duration of two years. Those apprehended utilizing such devices during the test to sway results for themselves or others will face a five-year ban.

The education ministry aims to swiftly introduce these modifications to the Higher Education Act's enforcement decree in the latter half of this year, with the new rules expected to become enforceable from the following year, as per an official. Incidents of TOPIK test cheating have surged in recent years, totaling 606 cases last year, as reported.