The Test of Proficiency in Korean, or TOPIK, will be administered in 223 regions in 72 countries next year.
 
South Korea’s National Institute for International Education said Friday that the exams will be conducted five times in April, May, July, October and November.
 
Out of the five exams, the third TOPIK will be conducted in only Vietnam, Iran, Japan, Cambodia and Thailand.
 
Introduced in 1997, the test is taken by foreigners and ethnic Koreans living overseas who want to study or find jobs in South Korea.
 
The TOPIK evaluates the level of Korean proficiency of foreigners and ethnic Koreans living abroad whose first language is not Korean.