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The recent cancellation of U.S. college entrance exams in South Korea — the first time SAT tests have been called off nationwide anywhere in the world for suspected cheating —is throwing the spotlight back on the country's hyper-competitive academic environment.

Over 90 medical students from Inha University in Incheon, west of Seoul, were found to have cheated during remote exams. They gathered at a specific location in a group of two to nine to take tests together or to compare their answers via telephone or social media platforms. To prevent its recurrence, the university demands students to submit an oath of academic honesty, use an online proctor system, and videotape themselves taking the tests. Those who are suspected of cheating could be required to take a verbal test.