A man who placed first in South Korea's qualifying exams for certified accountants and tax advisers has admitted he used generative artificial intelligence to cheat. He confessed that the near-perfect scores he achieved across hundreds of questions were not his own work.
The test taker, identified only by his surname, Han, apologized in a video posted on Sunday, November 15, to the YouTube channel of lawyer Lee Don-ho. Appearing in a face mask, he said he relied on electronic devices and generative AI tools to reach the unusual result.
Han said he photographed the exam questions with a tiny camera, sent the images to an AI tool, and then checked the answers it returned on his smartphone.
"I cheated using electronic devices and generative AI. The fact that I passed the exam with the highest score was not the result of fair effort," he said in the apology.
He added that he had already submitted a written confession to Seoul police. The police in the capital's Jungbu district did not respond to a call from Reuters seeking comment.
The case comes at a sensitive moment for South Korea. The country's annual university entrance exam is scheduled for Thursday, November 19. The test is regarded as one of the most decisive events in a young South Korean's life. Students spend years preparing for it, and the results can shape their academic and career prospects.
Following the revelation, South Korea's presidential office said it was treating the case very seriously and had already begun drawing up measures to prevent similar incidents during the upcoming exam. A senior official told reporters that the presidential chief of staff for policy would convene a special emergency meeting on the issue.
Prime Minister Han Seok-soo also addressed concerns about AI-assisted cheating on Friday. A statement issued on his behalf said the government would prepare in advance and closely monitor the process until it ends, to ensure the exam is conducted fairly and properly.
