South Korea plans criminal charges and three-year exam bans for students caught using smart glasses to cheat in university entrance tests.

South Korea plans to file criminal complaints against students caught using smart glasses to cheat in examinations and extend the period they must wait before retaking the country’s highly competitive university entrance test, as authorities move to tackle the growing misuse of artificial intelligence technology in education.

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An education ministry official, Lee Joon-hyuk, told AFP on Friday, October 30, that the government intended to pursue criminal charges against students caught cheating with the devices.

“The ministry will seek criminal charges against students caught cheating with smart glasses in the future,” Lee said.

Under the proposed measures, students found using smart glasses to cheat in examinations would be barred from retaking the test for three years, compared with the current one-year penalty.

However, the tougher rules are unlikely to take effect before next month’s university entrance examination, known as the Suneung.

Lee said there was insufficient time to amend the relevant law before the examination, which is about 20 days away.

“With only about 20 days left until the exam, it would be realistically difficult to amend the law before then. However, we plan to push for the changes to take effect from next year’s exam,” he said.

The planned crackdown follows growing concerns about smart glasses, wearable devices that can capture photographs and videos, connect users to artificial intelligence assistants and provide access to digital information without requiring a conventional smartphone screen.

Although the technology offers potential everyday applications, its discreet design has raised concerns about privacy, unauthorised recording and its possible use to gain an unfair advantage in examination.

The South Korean education ministry’s response follows an incident in which three students were caught wearing or possessing smart glasses during institution-administered essay examinations at universities in Seoul.

The cases have highlighted the difficulties examination authorities face in detecting technology that can be concealed in ordinary-looking eyewear.

Unlike conventional mobile phones, smart glasses can allow users to access digital assistance while appearing to be wearing normal spectacles.

Depending on the device, users may be able to capture examination questions, receive information through an AI assistant or communicate with another person.

The technology has therefore created fresh challenges for institutions seeking to prevent cheating, particularly where examination rules prohibit access to external information or communication tools.

South Korea is not alone in confronting the problem. Taiwan’s prestigious National Taiwan University reportedly disqualified an entrance examination candidate during the summer after the candidate was found cheating with AI-enabled smart glasses.

In response, South Korea’s education ministry announced additional examination safeguards on Thursday. One of the proposed measures is to assign a designated staff member at each examination centre to identify suspicious eyewear and help prevent the devices from being used to cheat.

The Suneung is one of the most consequential examinations in South Korea’s education system. Its results play a major role in determining admission to leading universities, making the test a defining moment for many students and their families.

Admission to prestigious institutions is widely associated with improved employment prospects and social mobility.

The intense competition surrounding the examination has consequently placed considerable pressure on candidates.

The importance attached to the test is reflected in extraordinary arrangements made across the country on examination day.

During the English listening section, flights are suspended nationwide for 35 minutes, except in emergencies, to minimise noise that could disrupt candidates.

Banks and public offices also delay the start of work by an hour to reduce traffic congestion and help students reach examination centres on time.

However, the pressure associated with South Korea’s highly competitive education system has also drawn concern over student wellbeing.

Academic stress has been identified as one of several factors contributing to mental health difficulties among young people in the country.

The proposed penalties for smart-glasses cheating therefore come against a backdrop of an examination system where academic performance carries significant consequences for students’ futures.

The planned changes reflect a wider challenge facing education authorities as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into consumer devices.

Traditional examination rules were largely designed around visible technologies such as mobile phones, calculators and written materials.

Wearable devices capable of capturing information and providing discreet AI assistance require additional monitoring methods.

For South Korean authorities, the immediate priority is to protect the integrity of the Suneung while ensuring that candidates compete under the same conditions.

The proposed three-year retake restriction and possible criminal complaints would mark a tougher response to examination fraud involving smart glasses.

However, the measures are still being pursued and are not expected to apply to the November 2026 examination.

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The planned implementation from next year will test how effectively the authorities can enforce the rules as wearable AI technology becomes more accessible.