South Korean Universities Penalize Four Students for Using ChatGPT in Exams
South Korean universities penalized four students with F grades for using ChatGPT during exams, according to Ministry of Education data covering 2020 to November 2025. The findings came from an analysis of 224 detected cheating cases across 49 universities, though ministry officials acknowledged that many undetected violations likely occurred.
What happened
Between 2020 and 17 November 2025, South Korean universities detected 224 cases of exam cheating across 49 institutions, according to data from the Ministry of Education released on 24 November.
Four cases explicitly cited ChatGPT use as the reason for cheating violations: two cases at provincial state universities and two at private universities.
All four ChatGPT cases resulted in F grades for the students involved.
Reported impact
Use of electronic devices and mobile phones for exam cheating, including ChatGPT, accounted for 40 of the 224 detected cases.
Index analysis
The statistics compiled by the Ministry only included exam cheating incidents officially detected and reported by university administrations, and the actual number of undetected violations is expected to be higher.
Governance controls
Universities applied disciplinary measures according to the severity of cheating violations, including F grades, ethics education, community service, warning, and suspension.
ChatGPT use consistently resulted in the most severe individual penalty of an F grade.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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