Korea's exam agency apologizes for AI cheating scandal, vows full review of national certification tests

The Human Resources Development Service of Korea apologized Sunday for an AI-assisted cheating incident involving the top scorer of this year's tax accountant licensing exam, and said it would conduct a comprehensive review of all national certification tests for signs of similar irregularities.

The agency held an emergency management meeting attended by senior officials at the grade-1 level and above, then released a statement under the name of President Lee Byung-hoon. "We sincerely apologize for failing to prevent cheating as the body responsible for administering these examinations," Lee said.

The agency said it plans to file a complaint against the suspect, identified only as A, on charges of obstruction of business. It also pledged to cooperate fully with investigators and incorporate findings from the investigation into its exam management practices. The agency said it would work with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Tax Service — the ministries with jurisdiction over the matter — to move quickly on revoking A's certification.

The agency also announced preventive measures. It plans to expand deployment of its "AI Inspector" program, a dedicated unit of supervisors tasked with detecting AI-assisted cheating. It is also reviewing a mandatory inspection of all test-takers' eyeglasses and the introduction of radio-frequency detectors at exam venues.

The agency said it would hold an emergency task force meeting Sunday afternoon, chaired by Deputy Minister of Employment and Labor Kwon Chang-jun, to begin a broad review of the national certification system and develop a comprehensive set of countermeasures.

A scored unusually high marks on both the first and second stages of the 63rd tax accountant examination, held in April and July this year, finishing first overall. On Sunday, A appeared on a lawyer's YouTube channel and admitted to cheating using a miniature camera, AI and a smartphone. A also said the same method was used to cheat on the first stage of the certified public accountant examination.