The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) will be held three times abroad this year. The photo shows students on Dec. 18 last year taking the P-MOPIK, a mock exam developed by the Korean Education Center of Pai Chai University in Daejeon. (Pai Chai University)

By Kim Hyelin and Lee Jihae

The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) will be given three times abroad this year.

The National Institute for International Education, an affiliate of the Ministry of Education, on Jan. 22 said the three dates are April 10-11, July 11 and Oct. 16-17.

Test takers must submit their applications from Jan. 29 to Feb. 3, May 21-27 or Aug. 3-9. They must receive and fill out forms from Korean-language education centers in their respective countries or a center's homepage and submit the forms via email or post.

Along with the aforementioned dates, the exam will also be administered in Korea on May 16 (application deadline March 10-15) and Nov. 14 (Sept. 7-13).

Information on when and how to apply for the test in each country or region is available on the TOPIK center's website (https://www.topik.go.kr).

The purpose of TOPIK is to provide direction in learning the language to gyopo (ethnic Koreans abroad) whose mother tongue is not Korean and foreign nationals, as well as to expand the availability of Korean-language education. 

The test is used to screen foreign students applying for Korean government scholarships to study in Korea, gyopo and foreign nationals wishing to enter Korean undergraduate and graduate programs, and seekers of employment visas for working at Korean corporations. 

kimhyelin211@korea.kr