부산지방경찰청은 웨어러블 기기를 이용해서 부정한 방법으로 토익시험 문제와 답안을 불러준 혐의로 알선브로커 A씨(33)를 업무방해 등의 혐의로 지난주 구속하고 토익선수 B씨(31)와 대학생 C씨(25) 등 7명을 불구속 입건했다.
경찰에 따르면 A씨는 지난해 12월 29일 치뤄진 YBM 한국토익위원회 주관 제262회 토익(TOEIC) 시험에서 무선장치를 이용해 사응시생들에게 무전기를 통해 답안을 불러준 혐의이다.
A씨는 그 대가로 부정응시자 6명에게서 1인당 300만원을 받는 등 총 1100만원을 받은 것으로 드러났다.
토익 고득점자인 일명 '선수'인 B씨가 시험을 치고 답안이 전송되면 A씨가 시험장 외부차량내에서 정답을 확인한 뒤 무전기를 소지한 부정응시생 6명에 무선 송신한 것으로 드러났다.
경찰은 이들로부터 초소형 무선장비와 무전기, 현금 500만원 등을 증거물로 압수했다.
관련 영문기사
Wearabe devices mobilized in TOEIC cheating
The Busan police have caught eight people using a self-devised miniature wireless camera and transmitters to cheat on the popular Test of English International Communication, or TOEIC, on Tuesday.
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency booked two men identified by the surnames Jung, 33, and Lee, 31. The men, along with six others who purchased their devices, are suspected of obstructing business and brokering illegal devices.
With the miniature video transmitter installed in the collar of his jacket, Lee transmitted a video of his answers to Jung, who then relayed them to the six TOEIC applicants’ hidden earphones.
Cheating via smartphones is already a big problem for TOEIC and other test administrators. Jung attempted to formulate a scheme that took cheating a step further to avoid detection by using a cutting-edge wireless camera.
The six applicants paid 2 million won-4 million won ($1,880-$3,760) to cheat on the TOEIC exam held on Dec. 29. After their cheating was caught, all six applicants’ scores were canceled.
Many Koreans take TOEIC regularly as most local companies use the English proficiency test when recruiting new employees or considering employees for promotion. Experts argue that metal detectors should be installed for major tests including state exams for selecting government officials as new technologies allow for new types of cheating.
By Suh Ye-seul, Intern reporter
(sys@heraldcorp.com)
