On June 12, in front of the statue of King Sejong at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, officials from Workplace Gapjil 119′s online labor union held a demonstration urging the suspension of the privatization and digital transition of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). They emphasized concerns about the impact of these changes on accessibility and fairness in the examination process. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) – A growing chorus of civic groups and Korean language educators is calling on the South Korean government to halt its plan to privatize the administration of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), warning that the move would undermine the public integrity of the exam and place financial burdens on vulnerable test-takers.
At a press conference in downtown Seoul on Thursday, the Coalition Against TOPIK Privatization—which includes labor advocacy group Workplace Gapjil 119 and the Korean Language Teacher Policy Alliance—urged the Ministry of Education to reconsider the plan. “Korean is not a commodity,” they declared, denouncing the policy as a threat to public education.
TOPIK, administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under the Ministry of Education, is a state-run exam that evaluates the Korean language proficiency of foreign nationals and overseas Koreans. In 2024, over 420,000 people took the test worldwide.
The controversy stems from the government’s ongoing negotiations with a consortium led by Naver to digitally transform TOPIK through a private investment software project. Under the proposed structure, the consortium would invest the full 343.9 billion won project budget, recouping its investment primarily through TOPIK registration fees—without government subsidy.
Critics argue the plan amounts to de facto privatization and could lead to higher exam fees, reduced accessibility, and the erosion of both quality and accountability. They also warn of a broader commercialization of Korean language education, which has traditionally been considered a state responsibility.
TOPIK Privatization Plan Sparks Backlash from Language Teachers and Civic Groups (Image supported by ChatGPT)
A survey conducted last month by Workplace Gapjil 119 of Korean language instructors found that 66% believe TOPIK should remain under direct state control, while fewer than 1% supported a private-sector handover.
Eighty-five percent said privatization would weaken the exam’s public mission, with 80% citing concerns over declining assessment standards and 77% worried about higher fees limiting access.
“The test affects everything from residency and employment to education and integration for migrant communities,” said Yang Tae-young, a Korean language teacher at a community family center. “Privatization will only benefit those who can afford to take the test repeatedly.”
Choi Yoo-ha, a veteran educator with two decades of experience, questioned the legitimacy of introducing corporate interests into the assessment process. “Who is this decision really for?” she asked. “Language education must remain in the public domain.”
Udaya Rai, chair of the Migrant Workers’ Union, warned that even the current TOPIK fees are already burdensome for many. “Privatization not only raises costs, but also threatens the exam’s fairness and reliability,” he said.
The coalition also slammed the opaque nature of the bidding and consultation process, stating that Korean language educators, researchers, and learners were excluded from the decision-making.
Foreigners taking the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Globally, national language proficiency exams—such as TOEFL (English), DELE (Spanish), DELF/DALF (French), TestDaF (German), and JLPT (Japanese)—are typically administered by public or nonprofit institutions, underscoring South Korea’s potential departure from international norms.
In a statement, the Korean language educators’ division of Workplace Gapjil 119 warned that transferring TOPIK to a private operator would “dismantle the public value of Korean language education” and “turn a fundamental right into a market product.”
As criticism intensifies, pressure is mounting on the Lee Jae-myung administration to reevaluate the policy before finalizing the Naver consortium agreement. For now, educators and civic groups vow to continue protests to safeguard the future of Korean language education.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
