South Korea to launch AI-driven TOPIK exam and home-testing by 2029
The Education Ministry announced that the Korean language proficiency test will be revamped with artificial-intelligence tools for question creation and grading, and will gradually allow remote testing starting in 2029.
South Korea’s Education Ministry disclosed a multi-year overhaul of the state-run Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). After a surge in applications—from 421,812 in 2023 to 566,665 in 2025—the government will develop an AI-assisted evaluation framework by June 2027, run pilot examinations in 2028, and introduce the redesigned test in 2029. The artificial-intelligence system will help create and grade questions, with human experts reviewing outputs to ensure fairness.
Security measures will be tightened through broader use of radio-frequency detectors to spot prohibited devices such as AI-enabled glasses. Starting in 2029, a home-based version will be offered for lower-level exams that do not directly determine university admission or residency status. Penalties for impersonation, paper leaks, or forged IDs may include a ban of up to five years from taking TOPIK.
Why it matters
The reform modernizes a key language credential, affecting university admissions, visas and employment for millions of learners.
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