A view of Yonsei University (Image courtesy of Yonsei University)
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — A major cheating scandal has erupted at Yonsei University after evidence surfaced that a large number of students used ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools during an online midterm exam, prompting the professor to threaten disciplinary action.
The professor of “Natural Language Processing (NLP) and ChatGPT,” a third-year course at the university’s main Sinchon campus, announced that multiple cases of cheating had been detected.
The professor warned that students who came forward voluntarily would receive a zero for the midterm, while those who denied wrongdoing could face suspension under the university’s code of conduct.
The course, which covers generative AI and large language models, has roughly 600 students and is conducted online. The midterm, held remotely on October 15, required students to solve multiple-choice questions on a website while recording their screens and faces throughout the test.
Generative AI is permeating every corner of daily life. (Yonhap)
Despite these precautions, several students reportedly manipulated camera angles to create blind spots or overlapped multiple programs on their screens to conceal cheating.
Some allegedly took screenshots of questions or switched windows during the test. Teaching assistants and the professor reviewed all submitted videos and found widespread evidence of misconduct.
The exact number of offenders remains unclear, but speculation among students suggests that more than half of the class may have cheated.
In a poll posted on the student community app Everytime, of 387 respondents—excluding those who said they were not enrolled in the class—211 admitted to cheating while 176 claimed they had taken the test honestly.
Many of the students are believed to have relied on AI tools. “Most people used ChatGPT,” said one 25-year-old student. “If you didn’t, you’d fall behind.” Another student who took the same course last semester said many had used AI to search for answers during exams.
The incident has reignited debate over the growing use of generative AI in higher education. Although AI has been widely available for three years, most universities have yet to establish clear ethical or policy frameworks governing its use.
A scene from a university lecture taking place in South Korea. (Yonhap)
A survey last year by the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training found that 92 percent of university students had used AI for assignments or research, while a separate study by the Korean Council for University Education showed that more than 70 percent of universities had no formal AI guidelines.
Experts warn that excessive dependence on AI could erode students’ ability to think critically. “It’s like students who should be learning to walk are choosing to ride a motorcycle instead,” said Jung Ki-in, a professor of Korean language and literature at Kyung Hee University.
Some educators are calling for a fundamental overhaul of teaching and evaluation methods in the AI era. Kim Myung-joo, director of the AI Safety Research Institute, said that rather than banning AI, universities should require students to disclose its use and add their own analysis.
Choi Byung-ho, head of Korea University’s AI Research Institute, suggested developing new assessment models centered on in-person presentations and in-depth discussions.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
