By Bahk Eun-ji
The Education Testing Service (ETS), the administrator of TOEIC and TOEFL examinations, said Friday it will inform companies and prospective employers of the names of those who were caught cheating on the tests.
It said it will make the notification after it obtains their names from police.
According to Seoul’s Gwanak Police Station, 50 people including students from Seoul National, Yonsei and Korea universities, employees of major companies and an announcer of a broadcasting company were booked on suspicion of cheating during the tests.
Police apprehended a group of law school students, and English language lecturers last month on suspicion of collaboration in cheating. They used wristwatches equipped with small cameras and other high-tech gadgets to pass answers on to other test takers.
The ETS said it will review all material investigators give them, and cancel results of those who cheated.
“We will gather information either on our own or with the assistance of law enforcement officials, our Office of Testing Integrity is investigating the scope of the case and we will take whatever steps are necessary, including cancelling scores and, if needed, taking legal action against the parties involved,” said an ETS official.
A police officer said they will consider sending the list of 50 people to the test administrators if they request it.
The police suspect there are more people involved in the case, as the arrested group sent e-mails to hundreds of university applicants and job seekers through an Internet community over three to four years.