Average Competition Rate 20:1... Gwangju Female Police Officer 50.8:1 Highest
Tension Rises Amid Surge in Confirmed Cases
Police Establish and Implement Special Quarantine Measures
Final Successful Candidates Announced in December After Physical Tests and Interviews
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The written exam for the second 'Open Competitive Recruitment Test for Police Officers' this year, aimed at selecting new police officers in the second half of the year, was held on the 21st. Amid the spread of the fourth wave of COVID-19, the police implemented thorough quarantine plans to prepare for any possible situation.
On this day, 43,415 applicants competed for 2,128 positions, recording a competition rate of about 20 to 1. By gender, 15,349 men applied for 1,546 positions (competition rate 18.9 to 1), and 14,066 women applied for 582 positions (competition rate 24.1 to 1).
By region, Seoul had the highest number of applicants with 10,746. Including the 101 Security Unit police officer recruitment separately conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the number rises to 12,247. The most competitive region was the Gwangju female recruitment, with a competition rate of 50.8 to 1 (6 positions, 305 applicants).
This written exam was conducted amid a pandemic with around 2,000 new COVID-19 cases daily, raising some concerns. In response, the police implemented extraordinary quarantine measures to ensure safe exam administration. First, a professional disinfection company disinfected the exam sites before and after the test, and only one entrance was opened to centralize access. Social distancing in exam rooms, hand sanitizer placement, and ventilation were enforced, and symptomatic candidates were separated into a designated reserve exam room to take the test.
In particular, Seoul introduced an electronic health questionnaire for the first time nationwide to enhance candidate convenience and strengthen quarantine measures. Before the exam, candidates received a text message on their mobile phones with instructions to complete the electronic questionnaire. Based on the results, two types of QR codes appeared (blue for no issues, orange for further confirmation needed), which candidates had to present on the exam day at the entrance. The police plan to review the implementation results and consider expanding this system nationwide.
The second police officer recruitment will proceed with physical, fitness, and aptitude tests from September 23 to October 29, interviews from November 22 to December 14, and the final successful candidates will be announced on December 17.
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