Han declares 'zero tolerance' for cheating in X post

Calls for investigation into top scorer at tax accountant exam

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook. [Newsis]
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook. [Newsis]

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Friday that the recent controversy over exam cheating using AI-enabled smart glasses is "a serious problem that undermines the fair opportunities of students who have worked diligently," vowing to take a zero-tolerance approach to any conduct that compromises the integrity of national exams.

Han made the remarks in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying the government is "taking public concerns very seriously."

"We will first make sure the College Scholastic Ability Test next week is handled with the utmost care," Han said, adding that dedicated personnel would be stationed at every exam venue to screen for smart glasses and that rapid-response coordination would be established with the Ministry of Education and regional education offices.

Han doubled down on the consequences for those caught cheating, saying that in addition to having their exam results voided and their eligibility revoked, offenders would face criminal referrals and investigation.

On allegations that the top scorer in the 63rd tax accountant licensing exam achieved an unusually high score through the use of smart glasses, Han said the government would "do its utmost to resolve the allegations through a thorough probe, including a referral for investigation," and that anyone found to have cheated would face commensurate consequences.

Han also said the government would conduct a comprehensive review of the national exam management system and "swiftly draw up pan-government measures to completely eradicate cheating through the misuse of smart devices," pledging that the government would "watch over every test-taker to the end so they can focus solely on their exams."


jshan@heraldcorp.com