Foreign students sent to prosecutors for fraudulent TOPIK test scores used for degrees, scholarships

South Korean police have referred 110 foreign nationals to prosecutors for allegedly obtaining fraudulent scores on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). The individuals, mostly Chinese students, used the illicit scores to gain admission to universities, secure degrees, and obtain scholarships.

The investigation, led by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's international crime investigation unit, identified a broker and numerous individuals who commissioned or took the fake tests. The scheme, which ran from October 2021 to November 2023, was advertised on Chinese social media platforms like Xiaohongshu. The perpetrators used forged identification documents, matched test-takers with similar appearances to the clients, and supplied advanced cheating equipment such as small earpieces and transmitters.

Authorities are also pursuing the alleged Chinese mastermind behind the operation through international cooperation. The broker, identified as "Mr. G," allegedly facilitated the process by relaying client information to the mastermind and using a macro program to manage test registrations and payments. Two equipment couriers have been apprehended, and a warrant has been issued for their arrest.

The clients, all Chinese university and graduate students, reportedly paid between 10,000 and 35,000 yuan (approximately $1,400 to $4,800) for the fraudulent scores. Eleven individuals with strong Korean language skills were recruited as test-takers, earning 800,000 won (about $600) per exam.

Police initiated the investigation last July after apprehending a proxy test-taker during a TOPIK exam. The operation is described as a sophisticated, organized crime involving advanced IT techniques, precise matching of proxy test-takers, forged IDs, and high-tech equipment. Police plan to enhance their investigative expertise and inter-agency cooperation to combat increasingly intelligent criminal methods.

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This case is an organized and meticulously planned crime that utilized intelligent fraudulent methods using IT technology, precisely matching proxy test-takers by appearance, and even employing advanced equipment.