Foreign competitors in a calligraphy contest marking the 579th anniversary of the Korean alphabet Hangeul on Oct. 9, 2025, show off their skills at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Seon Ah

Vietnam from this year will officially use the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in university admissions.

Korea's Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education on Feb. 3 said the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training in a ministerial decision officially approved the measure on Jan. 12.

Vietnam's university admissions system is based on the High School Graduation Examination, equivalent to Korea's College Scholastic Ability Test, and tests students in four subjects: math, Vietnamese, and two of nine electives including foreign language and history. The latest measure means a TOPIK score can satisfy the foreign language requirement.

A TOPIK score of Level 3 or higher earns exemption from an elective on the graduation exam and can be used applying to college. This system will take effect from this academic year.

Demand for Korean-language education is high in Vietnam. The country in 2020 adopted Korean as an official second foreign language in high school and a first a year later.

The Southeast Asian nation is just the second in the world following Hong Kong last year to use TOPIK in university admissions. Of the 47 countries offering Korean-language education in elementary, middle and high school, 24 have officially adopted Korean as a second foreign language and 11 use it as a criterion in university admissions.

sofiakim218@korea.kr