South Korea probes top tax exam scorer who used AI to cheat

South Korean police have initiated an investigation following the admission by a top performer in the national tax accountant exam that he employed artificial intelligence to cheat. The individual, who topped both segments of the April and July qualifying exams, submitted a written confession to his lawyer, admitting to using AI to obtain exam answers.

The scholar achieved a score of 397.5 out of 400 points in the first round, only missing one out of 160 questions, leading to accusations of cheating using smart glasses, a claim he initially refuted. The police disclosed that they received the written admission from the test taker's lawyer and have handed the case over to investigators.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy plans to promptly suspend his qualification, according to local media.

In a YouTube video posted by his lawyer's channel, the candidate expressed deep regret over his actions, stating, "I used a miniature camera to photograph the exam questions and sent them to AI, then checked the answers on my smartphone." His lawyer emphasized the sensitivity of the matter, stating that they could not disclose further details due to the risk of similar cheating methods being adopted by others.

The individual attributed his motivation to financial struggles post-retirement from his previous job and the desire to succeed despite disappointing his parents after leaving a well-paying position.

The exam is conducted by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK), a governmental entity responsible for administering national qualification tests. The agency confirmed the presence of two supervisors during the test. In recent months, authorities have intensified efforts to curb cheating involving smart glasses.

The HRDK reported that an "AI inspector" detected a test-taker wearing smart glasses during a gas engineer certification exam last month. In October, the government announced its intention to file criminal complaints against students found using such devices in the national university entrance exam, known as the Suneung. Scheduled for November 19, this crucial exam is a prerequisite for admission to prestigious universities and is seen as a pathway to enhanced economic and marital opportunities in South Korean society.