On 29 September 2026 the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) announced a plan to reform and expand TOPIK, together with the 2027 TOPIK schedule.
2027 schedule (from the Ministry's 2027 TOPIK plan) TOPIK will be held 15 times in 2027: 6 paper-based tests (PBT; TOPIK I and II), 6 internet-based tests (IBT) and 3 speaking tests. The speaking tests and the sessions marked "Korea only" are not held overseas; the others are held in Korea and overseas. Registration dates are for Korea; overseas registration periods are set by each local organiser and differ.
Paper-based (PBT) • 110th (Korea only): exam 10 Jan; register 8–14 Dec 2026; results 4 Feb • 111th: exam 10–11 Apr; register 26 Jan–1 Feb; results 31 May • 112th: exam 15–16 May; register 9–15 Mar; results 24 Jun • 113th: exam 3–4 Jul; register 20–26 Apr; results 12 Aug • 114th: exam 16–17 Oct; register 3–9 Aug; results 9 Dec • 115th: exam 14 Nov; register 31 Aug–6 Sep; results 23 Dec
Internet-based (IBT) • 17th (Korea only): exam 20 Feb; register 15–21 Dec 2026; results 12 Mar • 18th: exam 20 Mar; register 12–18 Jan; results 9 Apr • 19th: exam 12 Jun; register 6–12 Apr; results 2 Jul • 20th: exam 28 Aug; register 6–12 Jul; results 17 Sep • 21st: exam 23 Oct; register 17–23 Aug; results 12 Nov • 22nd: exam 27 Nov; register 21–27 Sep; results 17 Dec
Speaking test (Korea only) • 13th: exam 20 Mar; register 12–18 Jan; results 12 Apr • 14th: exam 12 Jun; register 6–12 Apr; results 5 Jul • 15th: exam 23 Oct; register 17–23 Aug; results 15 Nov
Planned changes (not in force yet) • 2029 overhaul: an expert committee, due to be set up in October 2026, will draft a new test format by June 2027. A pilot is planned for 2028 and the new system for 2029. Topics listed for the committee include whether to combine or separate the intermediate and advanced levels, how to assess writing and speaking, and how to make paper and internet results equivalent. • AI and home testing: AI-assisted question writing and scoring, always checked by experts, and a "TOPIK Home Test" taken at home, starting with lower levels that are not used directly for study or stay procedures (pilot in 2029). • Cheating: the Ministry plans to change the law so that proxy testing, leaking test papers and forging ID each lead to a five-year ban from TOPIK (the current maximum is four years). Banned test-takers would also be blocked from sending scores to universities. • ID checks: the list of accepted IDs is to be shortened. According to the annex, from January 2027 documents such as the confirmation of a stay-permit application, a visa-issuance confirmation, ID-card application receipts and mobile IDs would no longer be accepted. An unexpired passport or alien registration card remains valid. • Speaking test overseas: it is held only in Korea now. A pilot ran in 2026 in Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Japan and Indonesia; a second pilot is planned for 2027 and regular overseas sessions from 2028. • Score submission: a planned online system where you enter an institution code to send your result to a university instead of printing a certificate (no date given).
What it means for you: the 2027 dates are the Ministry's plan; the 2029 changes still need committee work and, for some items, changes in the law. The announcement does not mention any change to TOPIK levels or to the scores needed for visas or universities. The Ministry itself notes criticism that test places are limited compared with demand, so plan your registration early.
What to do: check topik.go.kr when each registration period opens, and bring an unexpired passport or alien registration card to the test.
Source: Ministry of Education press release and annexes, 29 September 2026.