SEOUL — South Korea is preparing to give its national Korean-language proficiency exam a major technology overhaul, with artificial intelligence set to help create questions and grade written responses as part of a redesigned TOPIK system targeted for 2029.
The Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education announced the reform plan Tuesday as demand for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) continues to climb worldwide.
The overhaul is intended to move TOPIK away from its traditional paper-heavy format and toward a more flexible digital testing system for international students, job seekers and other foreign nationals who need Korean-language credentials.
TOPIK demand is surging
TOPIK has expanded dramatically since it was introduced in 1997.
Annual applicants increased from roughly 329,000 in 2018 to more than 566,000 in 2025, with test takers spanning 94 countries. By September 2026, registrations had already reached 564,606, about 10% higher than during the same period a year earlier.
The rapid growth reflects the expanding role of Korean-language skills in education, employment and residency-related processes in South Korea.
Officials are now preparing for a testing system capable of handling an even larger international audience.
AI will help build and grade the exam
Under the planned reform, South Korea will develop an AI-based system capable of automatically generating test questions and scoring responses.
However, the system will not operate entirely without human oversight. The planned AI scoring models will be paired with mandatory reviews by human experts, according to the Education Ministry’s strategy.
A reform committee involving specialists in Korean-language education, testing and assessment, and AI is scheduled to develop the new framework by June 2027.
Pilot operations are planned for 2028, with the redesigned system targeted for full implementation in 2029.
A TOPIK test from home is also coming
The changes could eventually make the exam much more accessible.
South Korea plans a gradual introduction of a “TOPIK Home Test,” allowing some candidates to take certain exams from their residences.
The home-testing system is expected to be introduced in stages, beginning with examinations that are not used for purposes such as university admission or residency requirements.
At the same time, officials plan to expand testing locations in South Korea and overseas to accommodate growing demand.
Cheating crackdown will arrive sooner
The digital transformation is being paired with tougher security measures.
South Korean authorities say sophisticated cheating methods have become an increasing concern, including the use of miniature communication devices and technology such as AI-enabled glasses.
From January 2027, authorities plan to strengthen measures against serious violations such as proxy test-taking, test-paper leaks and identity-document forgery.
Serious offenders will face a mandatory five-year ban from taking TOPIK, while test centers will expand the use of radio-frequency detection equipment capable of identifying unauthorized Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals.
Authorities also plan to stagger different test versions across time zones to reduce the possibility of questions being leaked during international testing.
The exam itself is being pushed into a new era
The planned reform comes partly because the current TOPIK framework, developed in 2014, has faced criticism over whether it adequately reflects practical Korean-language communication.
Universities have raised concerns that preparation can become heavily focused on memorization rather than real-world language ability.
The government is therefore attempting to modernize both how TOPIK is administered and how Korean proficiency is measured.
The 2027 schedule will include 15 testing cycles: six paper-based examinations, six internet-based tests and three speaking evaluations.
Why the TOPIK overhaul matters
TOPIK is no longer simply a language test for people studying Korean as a hobby.
Its results can play an important role for foreigners seeking university admission, employment and residency-related opportunities in South Korea. As the global number of Korean-language learners grows, the credibility, accessibility and security of the examination become increasingly significant.
South Korea’s challenge will be balancing convenience and technology with accuracy and trust.
By 2029, candidates could be facing a TOPIK that looks dramatically different from today’s exam — with AI helping create and evaluate questions, more digital testing and potentially more opportunities to take the test from home.
The Korean-language test is entering the AI era. What remains to be seen is how much of the traditional TOPIK experience will survive once the transformation is complete.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
