Han Won-seok, 34, who achieved the top score in South Korea's certified tax accountancy exam, has admitted to cheating. He confessed in a video published by his lawyer, Lee Don-Ho, stating he used a miniature camera, mobile phone, and AI tools during both rounds of the test.
Han scored 397.5 out of 400 points in the first round, missing only one of 160 questions, which initially led to suspicions. He explained that he used a microcamera to photograph test questions, sent them to an AI, and then checked his answers on his smartphone.
The Ministry of Employment and Labour and the Human Resources Development Service held an emergency meeting following Han's admission. South Korean president's policy chief Ha Jun-kyung stated that new measures would be introduced to prevent cheating. The government has also indicated that those found to have used AI to cheat in the tax accountancy exam will have their qualification revoked and be banned from retaking the test for five years.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed it received a written confession and has assigned the case to investigators. This scandal occurs just days before the nation's annual college entrance exam.