Interior ministry opens 7th-grade civil service exams to 27,235 applicants nationwide

The interior ministry said Wednesday that 27,235 people have applied for 1,893 local government positions in this year's open competitive and career-track recruitment examinations, an average ratio of 14.4 applicants per place, with the written tests to be held simultaneously across all 16 metropolitan cities and provinces on Oct. 31.

The largest share of candidates is competing for 7th-grade posts: 19,673 people applied for 570 openings, an average ratio of 34.5 to 1. The ministry attributed the softening to the number of 7th-grade places more than doubling from 267 to 570, while applications edged up from 19,091.

Separate examinations held the same day drew smaller fields. A 9th-grade career-track test for graduates and soon-to-be graduates of technical high schools received 707 applications for 382 planned places, a ratio of 1.9 to 1. Tests for 8th- and 9th-grade career-track posts in industrial and driving series and other categories drew 2,288 applicants for 598 positions, or 3.8 to 1.

Candidates must check their test site, reporting time, required items and examination rules in advance through the test-site notice posted on the website of the city or province where they applied. Results of the 7th-grade and other written examinations will be announced during November on each city and provincial website.

"Local public officials work closest to residents, supporting the development of their regions and the daily lives of the people," said Jin Myeong-gi, head of the ministry's local autonomy and innovation office. "I hope the efforts of every candidate who has prepared for these examinations bear good fruit, and I cheer them on as they grow into public officials who will help build the future of their regions."