South Korean exam topper admits using AI to cheat, police launch probe

South Korean police have opened an investigation after the highest-scoring candidate in a national tax accountant qualification exam admitted using artificial intelligence (AI) to cheat during the tests.

The candidate, who secured the top position in both stages of the examination held in April and July, confessed through his lawyer that he had used AI to obtain answers.

His performance had raised suspicions after he scored 397.5 out of 400 in the first round, answering 159 of the 160 questions correctly. He was initially accused of using smart glasses to cheat but denied the allegations.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed on Sunday that it had received a written confession through the candidate's lawyer and had referred the matter to investigators.

In a video shared on his lawyer's YouTube channel, the candidate expressed regret over his actions and explained how he had carried out the cheating.

He said he photographed examination questions using a miniature camera, sent the images to an AI tool to obtain answers and then checked the responses on his smartphone.

Explaining his decision, the candidate said he had faced financial difficulties after leaving his job to start a business. He also admitted that the pressure to earn money and his fear of disappointing his parents had influenced his actions.

His lawyer declined to share further details, saying doing so could encourage others to adopt similar methods of cheating. The examination is conducted by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK), which said two supervisors were present during the candidate's test.

HRDK President Lee Byung-hoon apologised over the incident and announced that the agency would lodge a criminal complaint against the candidate on charges of obstructing business.

The case has also drawn attention ahead of South Korea's highly competitive annual university entrance examination, known as the Suneung, scheduled for November 19.

The presidential office said the matter was being taken seriously. Following a meeting on Sunday, officials decided to carry out a comprehensive investigation into suspected AI-assisted cheating in national qualification examinations.

South Korean authorities have also intensified efforts to prevent the use of smart glasses and other devices during examinations.

The HRDK said on Sunday that its AI-based monitoring system had detected a candidate wearing smart glasses during a gas engineer certification test last month.

In October, the government also announced plans to lodge criminal complaints against students found using such devices to cheat in the national university entrance examination.