South Korea bans AI glasses in exam rooms amid cheating scandal

South Korea’s Ministry of Education has ordered that AI‑enabled smart glasses be classified as prohibited items in all examination rooms. The directive follows several incidents in which students used the devices to cheat on high‑stakes certification and language tests, raising concerns ahead of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) and university admissions exams.

Universities such as Seoul National University, Korea University, Ewha Womans University and Sungkyunkwan University have reported that they lack dedicated guidelines for handling AI‑glass misuse, prompting criticism that academic institutions are lagging behind the rapid evolution of generative‑AI tools. While some schools have begun drafting policies, enforcement remains uncertain, especially for university‑run exams that are not subject to criminal penalties.

The ministry’s move signals a tightening of anti‑cheating measures as AI wearables become more accessible, aiming to preserve the integrity of South Korea’s competitive education system.