TOPIK has seen a surge in popularity, with 428,585 applicants in 2024, marking a 71.3% increase from 250,141 in 2016. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEJONG, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Riding a wave of growing international interest in the Korean language, South Korea’s Education Ministry announced on October 10 that it will double the frequency of its internet-based Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in 2025.
The ministry’s “2025 TOPIK Implementation Plan” outlines a total of 15 test administrations for next year, a significant increase from the current schedule. This change comes in response to a dramatic rise in test-takers over recent years.
TOPIK, initiated in 1997, serves as an objective measure of Korean language proficiency for overseas Koreans and foreign nationals. The test has seen a surge in popularity, with 428,585 applicants in 2024, marking a 71.3% increase from 250,141 in 2016.
To meet this growing demand, the Ministry of Education plans to increase the number of internet-based test (IBT) sessions from three to six in 2025. Additionally, the number of countries offering the IBT will expand from six to 13, with Romania, Malaysia, Guam (U.S.), Vietnam, Thailand, Paraguay, and Pakistan joining the list of test locations.
Alongside the expanded IBT offerings, the ministry will continue to administer six paper-based tests (PBT) and three speaking assessments throughout the year.
Park Sung-min, director of planning and coordination at the Ministry of Education, emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring stable implementation of the IBT.
“We are also steadily preparing to build a digital platform utilizing artificial intelligence technology, allowing for Korean language proficiency assessment anytime, anywhere,” Park said.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
