Chinese Nationals Caught in Seoul: "Suspicious" Blue Lights on Necks

A road in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul.

A man and a woman are seen exchanging something on the street.

Similar scenes were captured on other days as well.

These are Chinese students receiving small earphones, transceivers, and other equipment to be used at the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) from members of a cheating and proxy test-taking ring.

The organization, based in China, was found to have promoted cheating and proxy test-taking on Chinese social media, claiming that they could "guarantee high scores on the TOPIK."

They targeted the fact that TOPIK scores are crucial for foreigners seeking admission to domestic universities or graduate schools, employment at companies, and the acquisition of permanent residency or stay visas.

It was determined that they charged approximately 2 million won for cheating using devices like transceivers, and about 8 million won for proxy test-taking.

If a client wanted to cheat, they would listen to answers provided by an organization member through an earphone during the test. If they wanted a proxy, the group would recruit someone with a similar appearance and even provide them with a forged ID card.

[Interview] Kim Seong-ho / Chief of the 1st International Crime Investigation Unit, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency: "They wear the (cheating equipment) on the back of their necks, and it supposedly 'blinks with a light.' A test supervisor discovered this and caught them on the spot."

The police stated that the criminal proceeds earned over a period of four years, from October 2021 to last November, amounted to approximately 700 million won.

The police apprehended one broker in South Korea, one naturalized Korean who took proxy tests for 800,000 won per case, and 11 Chinese nationals.

Additionally, 101 Chinese nationals who requested the cheating or proxy services were booked on charges including obstruction of official business by deception.

The police believe that the ringleader based in China was responsible for producing ID cards, arranging proxy test-takers, and manufacturing and delivering the equipment, and are currently tracking them through international investigative cooperation.

They are also continuing to investigate who the organization members were that provided the answers, and through what channels the answers were obtained.

"Guaranteed High Scores on Korean Test" Openly Advertised... 101 Chinese Nationals Caught Cheating (July 21, 2026, D-Report)

Reported by Bae Seong-jae | Produced by Lee Seyoung | Video by Kim Nam-seong | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.