South Korea to prosecute students cheating with smart glasses

South Korea intends to prosecute students who cheated on a national university entrance exam using smart glasses and will tighten penalties for their use, according to an education ministry official. Smart glasses have gained popularity worldwide, but their use has raised concerns, including invasion of privacy and exam cheating.

South Korea's rigorous college entrance exam, called "Suneung," is crucial for admission to prestigious universities and is considered a key factor for economic stability and matrimonial prospects. Lee Joon-hyuk, an official from the education ministry, confirmed that the ministry will seek criminal charges against students caught cheating with smart glasses in the future.

The new regulations would lengthen the disqualification period from one to three years. However, these measures are unlikely to be implemented before the upcoming college entrance tests, scheduled for next month. Lee acknowledged that amending the law in such a short time would be impractical. The announcement follows the discovery of three students wearing or possessing smart glasses during institution-administered essay exams at universities in Seoul.

The issue of smart glasses use is becoming a growing concern at schools globally. To combat cheating using smart glasses, the ministry plans to assign a designated staff member at each examination center to identify suspicious eyewear. On the day of the Suneung, a 35-minute nationwide flight ban is implemented during the English listening test, except in emergencies, and banks and public offices adjust their operational hours to minimize road traffic.

The immense pressure placed on students in South Korea's highly competitive education system has been linked to high rates of teenage depression and suicide, which rank among the highest worldwide.