[25.12.30] Top Instructors Hyun Woo-jin and Cho Jung-sik Indicted

Top Instructors Hyun Woo-jin and Cho Jung-sik Indicted… ‘Private Education Cartel’ in CSAT Question Trading Uncovered

📍Dozens of current and former teachers charged after receiving millions of won for exam questions

Hyun Woo-jin and Cho Jung-sik, widely known as “top instructors” in South Korea’s private education industry, have been indicted for illegally purchasing College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) questions from active teachers. Prosecutors defined the case as an organized private education cartel that seriously undermined the fairness of the national college entrance exam.

 'top instructors' Hyun Woo-jin and Jo Jung-sik have been indicted on charges of illegally trading college entrance exam questions with a current teacher.

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🔹 Star instructors accused of buying and selling CSAT questions
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Criminal Division 7, indicted Hyun Woo-jin and Cho Jung-sik without detention on charges including violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. Along with them, nine private education company officials—including two major academies in Seoul’s Gangnam district—and 35 current and former teachers were also indicted, bringing the total number of defendants to 46.

According to prosecutors, Hyun paid approximately 400 million won to three active teachers between 2020 and 2023 in exchange for CSAT question creation. Cho was also found to have paid around 80 million won during the same period to teachers and other individuals in return for exam questions.

🔹 Allegations of early access to EBS materials
Cho Jung-sik was additionally charged with breach of trust. Prosecutors concluded that Cho requested and received questions from EBS textbooks before their official publication from teachers who had participated in EBS writing or CSAT mock exam committees, potentially harming the proprietary value of EBS materials.

When the allegations first surfaced, Cho denied wrongdoing, stating that he had “never done anything shameful.”

🔹 Teachers playing dual roles
Among the indicted teachers were individuals who had exclusive contracts with private education companies to sell exam questions. Some teachers were found to have simultaneously participated in CSAT or mock exam question development while supplying similar or identical questions to private academies.

Investigators revealed that questions were often traded not individually but in bundled “sets” of 20 to 30 questions. Each question reportedly sold for between 100,000 and 500,000 won, with total illicit profits reaching tens of billions of won.

🔹 Outcome of the ‘private education cartel’ investigation
The indictments followed the National Police Agency’s April announcement of its investigation into a so-called “private education cartel,” in which 100 individuals—including 72 current and former teachers and 11 academy instructors—were referred to prosecutors. After supplementary investigations, prosecutors decided not to indict some suspects, granting deferred prosecution or other non-indictment dispositions.

Prosecutors stated, “We will respond strictly to any cartel activity that undermines the fairness of the CSAT,” adding that they would continue further investigations and maintain strong prosecution efforts.

One-line summary : Star instructors Hyun Woo-jin and Cho Jung-sik were indicted for paying active teachers for CSAT questions, exposing the reality of a large-scale private education cartel.