The Ministry of Education on Thursday announced plans to double the number of internet-based sessions for the Test of Proficiency in Korean next year.

Starting in 2025, 15 TOPIK sessions will be held annually. The new schedule will include six internet-based tests, six paper-based tests focusing on listening, reading and writing, and three additional internet-based tests sessions dedicated to speaking. This marks a significant increase in frequency of the internet-based tests, from three sessions per year to six.

The number of countries offering internet-based tests will also grow substantially, from six this year to 13 in 2025. New participating nations and territories include Romania, Malaysia, Guam, Vietnam, Thailand, Paraguay and Pakistan, joining South Korea, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

First launched in 1997, TOPIK is a widely recognized assessment of Korean language proficiency for overseas Koreans and foreign nationals. It serves as a key metric for studying at Korean universities, working in the country, participating in government scholarship programs and fulfilling credit and graduation requirements for Korean language-related majors at overseas institutions.

“In response to the growing demand for the Korean language proficiency test, we will increase the number of countries and testing sessions, ensuring that the internet-based test is implemented stably,” said Park Sung-min, head of the Ministry of Education's Planning and Coordination Office.

Park further highlighted plans to develop a digital platform incorporating artificial intelligence technology, aiming to make Korean language assessment accessible anytime and anywhere.

The expansion reflects the growing global fascination with Korean culture, fueled by the popularity of K-pop, Korean TV series and Korean cinema. As interest in the language continues to climb, the number of test-takers has increased in kind, with over 428,000 applying for the Korean language proficiency test this year -- a 71.3 percent increase from 2016.