TOEIC in the Republic of Korea

Towards the end of 2005, there was a shift in South Korea, regarded as the second biggest consumer of TOEIC or rather the biggest in terms of per capita consumption, away from the test as a measure of English ability on the corporate level. As noted in The Chosun Ilbo (조선일보; 朝鮮日報; Korea Daily Reports) national daily, a number of major coporations have either removed or reduced the required TOEIC score for employment. An official from the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK; Kiup Bank; 기업은행; 中小企業銀行) says, "TOEIC isn't an appropriate indicator of actual English skills." Another English proficiency test, TEPS, has been developed and is being adopted by more and more Korean companies.