South Korea Cracks Down on AI Smart Glasses Ahead of CSAT Exam

Students and teachers push back

The CSAT takes place on 19 November, and anxiety is rising. One student on an online forum, who normally wears black thick-framed glasses, said a high prescription and astigmatism rule out thinner frames or other lenses. The post asked what happens if the glasses are confiscated mid-exam. Some candidates reportedly plan to switch to metal frames or contact lenses.

Teachers who act as proctors face their own pressure. Smart glasses are hard to tell apart by eye, so questioning a student could trigger a complaint, while missing a cheater could raise questions of responsibility. A veteran teacher in Suwon said many colleagues are trying to avoid the duty this year. Proctor training is held only the day before the exam, which teachers say is too short. The Gyeonggi teachers' union issued a statement on 26 October demanding clear criteria for telling the two types of glasses apart and a dispute-response system run by the authorities.

What the rules say

The Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation lists smart glasses as prohibited items. Anyone caught with them can have the exam invalidated, and depending on the case may be barred from the next year's CSAT. Authorities plan to place one dedicated staff member at each test site to identify smart glasses.

President Lee Jae-myung ordered a crackdown on cheating with smart glasses and other advanced devices at a senior aides' meeting on 5 November. He called for stronger proctor training, a better on-site response system and protection for proctors from unjustified complaints. An official at the Gyeonggi education office said the education ministry and regional offices are discussing how the dedicated staff will operate.