South Korea urges tighter exam checks after smart-glasses cheating cases
In short
South Korea's Education Ministry asked universities to strengthen exam supervision after candidates were caught wearing smart glasses at Yonsei University and the University of Seoul. The cases occurred during admissions essay exams on October 10 and October 3, respectively.
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South Korea's Education Ministry has asked universities to strengthen admissions-exam management and supervision after candidates were caught wearing smart glasses at Yonsei University and the University of Seoul. Newsis reported that the ministry sent a cooperation request on October 13 calling for stronger advance checks and thorough follow-up action when cheating occurs. [ 13 ]
Yonsei detected a candidate wearing the glasses during a mathematics essay exam at its Sinchon campus in Seoul on October 10. Supervisors had checked candidates' glasses before the exam. Reports said the candidate wore ordinary glasses during inspection and changed into smart glasses after the exam began. A supervisor noticed the difference and collected the device. [ 1 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
The candidate acknowledged wearing smart glasses after the exam, according to the reports. Earlier coverage said Yonsei was considering follow-up measures. Dong-A Ilbo later reported that the candidate admitted an intention to cheat and that the university disqualified the exam. Yonsei classifies the glasses as prohibited electronic or communications equipment, even though its rules did not list them separately. [ 1 , 3 , 9 , 14 ]
At the University of Seoul, a candidate was caught wearing smart glasses during a natural-sciences essay exam on October 3. That candidate also reportedly switched from ordinary glasses after an initial check. The university immediately removed the candidate and prohibited participation in its exams for three years. [ 1 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
The ministry plans to include smart-glasses material in supervisors' manuals and audiovisual guidance due to be sent to regional education offices on October 15 and to share it with universities. Newsis said the devices can process camera images through AI, raising concerns about photographing questions or obtaining answers. Smart glasses are already on the prohibited-items list for the national university entrance examination. [ 13 ]
Why it matters
Smart glasses can combine cameras with AI to process images, raising concerns that they could be used to obtain exam answers. The devices are already prohibited in the national university entrance examination, and the ministry plans to share identification guidance with universities.
Key facts
- A candidate wearing smart glasses was caught during Yonsei's October 10 mathematics essay exam. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- A candidate was also caught wearing smart glasses at the University of Seoul's October 3 exam. [ 1 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- The University of Seoul removed its candidate from the exam and imposed a three-year exam ban. [ 1 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- The Education Ministry sent universities a request on October 13 to strengthen exam checks and follow-up action. [ 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Smart-glasses cases were detected at both Yonsei University and the University of Seoul. [ 1 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- The University of Seoul imposed a three-year exam ban on its candidate. [ 1 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- Yonsei treated smart glasses as prohibited electronic or communications equipment. [ 3 , 4 , 9 , 13 ]
Still unclear
- No open questions in the coverage so far.