{
  "id": 10619520,
  "title": "Korea turns to AI to modernize TOPIK national language exam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/korea-turns-to-ai-to-modernize-topik-national-language-exam",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-29T05:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/education/20260929/korea-turns-to-ai-to-modernize-topik-national-language-exam"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea is set to revolutionize its national Korean language proficiency test, TOPIK, by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the examination process. The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education have unveiled a comprehensive plan to modernize the widely recognized TOPIK exam, which is expected to be fully AI-driven by 2029. This digital transformation aims to accommodate the growing demand for Korean language skills among foreign students, job seekers, and workers looking to establish careers in the country.\n\nSince its inception in 1997 with fewer than 3,000 test-takers across four nations, TOPIK has experienced explosive growth, with annual applicants increasing from roughly 329,000 in 2018 to over 566,000 in 2025. Over 94 countries now participate in the exam, with registration reaching 564,606 as of September, marking a 10% rise from the same period last year.",
  "summary": "Korea’s national Korean language proficiency exam is preparing for a major digital overhaul, introducing artificial intelligence (AI) to draft test questions and grade essays as global demand to learn the language surges. The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education unveiled a comprehensive strategy Tuesday to modernize the Test of Proficiency in Korean, widely…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korea plans to modernize TOPIK exam with AI by 2029.",
    "TOPIK exam applications surged from 329k in 2018 to 566k in 2025.",
    "94 countries participate in TOPIK, with 564k registrations in September."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The shift to an AI-driven TOPIK exam means a more modern and scalable assessment process for the growing number of applicants seeking to demonstrate Korean language proficiency.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea turns to AI to modernize TOPIK national language exam",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/korea-turns-to-ai-to-modernize-topik-national-language-exam-10622850",
        "published": "2026-09-29T06:12:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}