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The exam administrator apologized and pledged a criminal complaint, while officials ordered an inquiry into suspected AI cheating across national qualification exams.
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The candidate’s first-round score of 397.5 out of 400 drew allegations of smart-glasses cheating; he later said he photographed questions with a miniature camera and sent them to AI, then checked answers on his phone. Police opened an investigation on November 15, 2026, and South Korea ordered a wider inquiry into suspected AI-assisted cheating on national qualification exams. The candidate’s account has not been independently established, and the inquiry comes four days before the Suneung university entrance exam.
The candidate initially denied cheating and said financial pressure after leaving his job contributed to his decision.
The exam administrator said two supervisors were present and its president, Lee Byung-hoon, apologized and pledged a criminal complaint for obstruction of business.
The candidate’s lawyer declined to share further details, citing concern that other test takers could copy the method.
South Korean police opened an investigation on November 15, 2026, after the top scorer in the national tax-accountant qualification exam confessed to using AI to cheat. Officials also ordered a broader inquiry into suspected AI-assisted cheating across national qualification exams, extending the response beyond the candidate’s own results.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it received a written confession through the candidate’s lawyer and assigned investigators to the case. The candidate had ranked first in both rounds of the qualification exam, held in April and July, according to AFP-Jiji’s report published by The Japan Times.
His first-round score was 397.5 out of 400 points, with only one wrong answer among 160 questions. That result prompted accusations that he had used smart glasses to cheat. He initially denied those allegations before admitting to AI-assisted cheating through his lawyer.
In a video posted on his lawyer’s YouTube channel, the candidate said he deeply regretted his actions. His description identified a miniature camera and a smartphone as parts of the method; the earlier accusations had focused on smart glasses.
I used a miniature camera to photograph the exam questions and sent them to AI, then checked the answers on my smartphone.
The exam candidate, in a video posted on his lawyer’s YouTube channel
His lawyer declined to disclose further details, citing concern that other test takers could copy the technique. The description remains the candidate’s account of how he cheated; police have opened an investigation into the case.
The candidate attributed his decision to financial pressure after leaving his job to start a business. He said he wanted to make money and felt he had disappointed his parents by quitting a good job.
The Human Resources Development Service of Korea, which administers the exam, said two supervisors were present during the candidate’s test. Its president, Lee Byung-hoon, apologized and said the agency would file a criminal complaint against the candidate for obstruction of business, TRT World reported.
Officials decided at a November 15 meeting to conduct a comprehensive investigation into suspected AI-assisted cheating across national qualification examinations. That decision broadens the official response from investigating one candidate to examining suspected misconduct across those tests.
The presidential office said it was treating the case seriously, particularly with the national university entrance exam approaching. That test, known as the Suneung, is scheduled for November 19—four days after police received the confession.
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