South Korea Threatens Three-Year Exam Ban, Prosecution for AI Smart Glasses Cheats
South Korea is preparing to take tougher legal action against students caught using artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses to cheat in examinations, with offenders facing criminal prosecution and a possible three-year ban from retaking tests.
The proposed crackdown follows growing concerns over the use of wearable technology to gain unfair academic advantages, particularly during high-stakes university entrance examinations.
An official of the country’s Education Ministry, Lee Joon-hyuk, disclosed that authorities intend to pursue criminal charges against students found cheating with the devices, according to AFP on Friday.
Under the proposed measures, students caught using smart glasses to cheat would be barred from sitting the examination again for three years, a significant increase from the current one-year restriction.
However, the tougher sanctions are not expected to apply to next month’s university entrance examination because there is insufficient time to amend the relevant regulations before the test. The government intends to introduce the changes from next year’s examination.
The move comes after three students were reportedly caught wearing or possessing smart glasses during university-administered essay examinations in Seoul, raising fresh concerns about the potential for technology-assisted examination fraud.
Smart glasses, which are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, allow users to capture images and videos, access artificial intelligence assistants and perform other digital functions without necessarily using a smartphone.
Although the devices offer convenience and technological innovation, their growing adoption has sparked concerns about privacy violations, unauthorised recording and their potential misuse in academic settings.
South Korea’s Education Ministry announced additional measures on Thursday to prevent examination malpractice, including assigning specially designated personnel to every examination centre to identify suspicious eyewear and other potentially prohibited devices.
The crackdown is particularly significant given the importance of the country’s annual College Scholastic Ability Test, popularly known as Suneung, which plays a decisive role in determining admission into prestigious universities.
The examination is widely regarded as one of the most consequential academic tests in South Korea, with students facing enormous pressure to secure places in top institutions and improve their future economic prospects.
The country’s strict examination culture is reflected in extraordinary nationwide arrangements made during the test. A 35-minute suspension of aircraft operations is imposed during the English listening section, except in emergencies, to minimise noise disruptions.
Banks and public offices also adjust their opening hours, allowing employees to resume work later than usual to ease traffic congestion and help candidates reach examination centres on time.
South Korea’s highly competitive education system has long attracted criticism over the psychological burden placed on young people, with intense academic expectations frequently linked to concerns about student depression and suicide.
The proposed restrictions signal the government’s determination to prevent emerging artificial intelligence technologies from undermining the integrity of one of the country’s most important educational assessments.
