Getting into a university is not the end of the story. If documents submitted for admission turn out to be forged or altered, the admission can be cancelled after acceptance, and even after enrollment. In July 2026 the cabinet also approved an amendment to the enforcement decree that adds a further ground: obtaining exam-question information for university-run tests (essay, interview, practical exams) through improper solicitation. Based on the statute and the reported amendment, this article explains which acts lead to cancellation, what changes and when, and what students and parents should check when submitting documents. Individual cases are decided by universities and courts, and this article is not legal advice.

Cancelling admission is a duty set by law

Article 34-6 (Cancellation of Admission) of the Higher Education Act was inserted on December 10, 2019 and took effect on June 11, 2020. It says that the head of a university must cancel the admission of a student who submitted forged, altered or otherwise false materials in the admission process, had someone else take an exam in their place, or committed another act of misconduct specified by presidential decree. The wording is "must cancel" rather than "may cancel", which leaves universities less room than before to look the other way once the facts are confirmed.

The decree names three kinds of misconduct

Article 42-4 of the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act divides the grounds into three. First, submitting forged, altered or otherwise false materials in the admission process. Second, having another person sit an exam in one's place. Third, acts that unfairly affect the fair running of the admission process, such as looking at another candidate's answer sheet or showing one's own, as specified in the school regulations. Because the last category is defined by each university's regulations, you should read the regulations and admission guidelines of the university you apply to.

The 2026 amendment adds solicited exam information

The Ministry of Education said the amendment to the decree was deliberated and approved at the cabinet meeting on July 14, 2026. According to reports, using exam-question information obtained by improper means, such as soliciting an admissions officer or an external committee member, to sit a university-run test is added to Article 42-4. It covers tests that universities run themselves, namely essay exams, interviews and oral exams, and practical exams in arts and physical education, and it was reported to apply to university-run tests held on or after December 3. The ministry explained that it had created a legal basis to cancel the admission of students who entered through improper solicitation.

What this means for students facing interviews and essays now

The December 3 cutoff affects tests held after the CSAT. Applicants whose essay, interview or practical exam falls after that date should know the rule can apply to them. To see which test at which university is covered, check the exam dates in the admission guidelines. How essay admissions differ by university is covered in our summary of the 2027 essay admissions, and what interviewers look for is covered in our article on interviews for applicants with no self-introduction essay.

What parents and others do can come back to the student

In a ruling of July 13, 2006 (case 2006da23817), the Supreme Court is reported to have held that even if the applicant did not commit misconduct personally, rejecting an applicant who benefited from misconduct by a close relative such as a parent was not unlawful. It also said that deciding admission is within the university's discretion and is unlawful only if that discretion is clearly exceeded or abused. That case predates today's Article 34-6, but it shows that when a guardian handles documents or exam information on a student's behalf, the responsibility can remain with the applicant.

Finding out after enrollment is not safe either

Court decisions include cases where cancellation came well after entry. A Seoul Northern District Court ruling of August 20, 2020 (case 2019gahap24913) noted that Article 34-6 of the Higher Education Act does not separately provide procedural rights such as a prior opportunity to state one's opinion. Put simply, even after receiving an admission letter, a school may act without a mandatory hearing if the authenticity of documents is questioned. If you disagree with a decision, separate remedies such as administrative litigation exist, so seek advice from a lawyer or the education office.

The order in which to check your documents

First, submit only originals issued directly by the issuing body, or copies obtained through official channels such as Government24. Second, if you find something wrongly written in your school record, do not change it yourself but go through the school's correction procedure; the steps are in our article on correcting the school record. Third, before the deadline, check once more that the values entered on the application agency site match the files uploaded to the university; for the application process see our article on early-admission applications. Fourth, if a cram school or consultant claims to know exam questions in advance or says it knows an admissions officer, do not take the offer and ask the university's admissions office instead.

Summary and where to confirm

To sum up: forged or altered documents and proxy exam-taking are grounds for cancelling admission under Article 34-6 of the Act and Article 42-4 of the Decree. Using exam-question information obtained through solicitation is reported to be added for tests held on or after December 3. Confirm the effective date and exact wording in the promulgated text of the decree, and the exam dates and regulations in the notices of the university's admissions office. This article is general information and not legal advice on any individual case.