Agency to file criminal complaint, expand AI inspection tools and probe other national licensing exams
Eyeglass checks, radio-frequency detectors among countermeasures under review
![People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won criticized President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday in a Facebook post, referencing the top scorer of this year's tax accountant exam admitting to AI-assisted cheating and turning themselves in to police. The suspect in the cheating scandal at the 63rd tax accountant examination. [Attorney Lee Don-ho's YouTube channel]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/11/15/news-p.v1.20261115.4480833709224764a4aca2d21f10cee2_P1.jpg)
Korea's Human Resources Development Service has apologized over an AI-assisted cheating scandal involving the top scorer of this year's tax accountant licensing exam, and said it will file a criminal complaint against the candidate and move to cancel the passing result.
The agency also said it will conduct a comprehensive review of other national licensing examinations for signs of irregularities and overhaul its overall exam management system to counter cheating using advanced devices such as smart glasses.
The agency issued a statement Sunday on the AI device cheating incident at the 63rd tax accountant examination, saying it "recognizes the gravity of the matter and sincerely apologizes for failing to prevent the cheating as the body responsible for administering the exam."
Earlier Sunday, the top scorer — identified only by the surname Han — appeared on an attorney's YouTube channel and admitted to cheating on both the first- and second-stage exams using a miniature camera, a smartphone and generative AI. Han said the exam questions were photographed and sent to the AI, with answers then checked via smartphone, and confirmed submitting a voluntary confession to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
The agency reached its follow-up decisions through an emergency management meeting attended by all executives at the first-grade level and above. It plans to file a criminal complaint against Han for obstruction of business and to work with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Tax Service — the government bodies overseeing the tax accountant licensing exam — to swiftly cancel the final passing result.
The agency also pledged full cooperation with investigators, saying it would incorporate findings from the investigation into its exam management procedures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The review will extend beyond the tax accountant exam to other national licensing tests. The agency said it plans to conduct a full inspection of all national licensing examinations to check for any signs of irregularities.
Supervisory measures to prevent cheating using electronic devices will also be strengthened. The agency said it is reviewing a range of countermeasures, including expanding the deployment of its existing AI inspector system, conducting checks on all eyeglasses worn by examinees, and introducing radio-frequency detectors. The agency and the Ministry of Employment and Labor will conduct a full review of the licensing examination system and draw up a comprehensive set of measures.
The ministry and the agency said they would hold an emergency task force meeting Sunday, chaired by the ministry's vice minister.
The incident has also sparked controversy over the failure of the national licensing exam supervision system to detect cheating using advanced devices. According to the agency's earlier account, two proctors were assigned to the examination room where Han sat, and Han's seat was in the center of the second row during the first-stage exam and the center of the first row during the second-stage exam, measured from the front of the room.
Agency President Lee Byong-hun said the agency would review measures to prevent cheating using AI devices and smart glasses and improve its overall licensing examination system. "We will uphold the fairness and integrity of our examinations," he said.
fact0514@heraldcorp.com
