[Report] "This Year, I Will Definitely Pass and Make You Proud" The New Year's Forgotten Noryangjin Academy District

"This Year, I Will Definitely Pass" Exam Candidates Flock to Academies
"Civil Service Exams Are Fair... Job Security Is Popular"
Successful Candidate from Noryangjin Visits Teacher to Greet New Year

On the morning of the 2nd, a civil service exam academy located in Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Examinees are deeply focused on their studies. Photo by Seulgi Kim, intern reporter sabiduriakim@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] "I always feel sorry to my mom. I just want her to wait a little longer because I will bring good news."

As the new year began in January 2020 and everyone was excited, the academy district in Noryangjin-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, where civil service exam candidates (Gongsisaeng) gather, was rather quiet and calm. Yet, there were quite a few examinees with tense expressions, determined to do their best.

On the morning of the 2nd, we met 27-year-old Kim, who is preparing for the police exam in Noryangjin. Kim, who said this is his first year preparing for the exam, said, "I study 18 hours a day. I live in a gosiwon. The exam is less than 100 days away, and I really hope to pass."

When asked to say a word to his parents for the new year, Kim said, "I came up from Iksan, Jeonbuk, so I think of my parents a lot. I always feel sorry, and I hope to bring good news this year," he said with an embarrassed smile.

He said the hardest moment while studying was "when I narrowly failed by a few points. Managing my so-called 'mental' state is difficult," he confessed.

On the morning of the 2nd, in the alley of the Noryangjin academy district in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, examinees are busy passing by, forgetting even the New Year. Photo by Seulgi Kim, intern reporter sabiduriakim@asiae.co.kr

Amid the increasingly difficult employment situation, many young people are taking the civil service exam. Although the passing criteria are high, the exam is at least fair, which is why many spend their youth in Noryangjin.

A job portal site surveyed 1,022 university students and job seekers in October last year, and 24.7% of respondents said they are currently preparing for the civil service exam. That means one in four is preparing for the exam.

Also, 59.7% answered that they intend to prepare for the civil service exam in the future. Only 15.7% said they have no intention of taking the civil service exam.

The main reason for preparing for the civil service exam was "job security," cited by 69.7% (multiple answers allowed). This was followed by △retirement pension (37.9%) △welfare system and working environment (21.1%) △undecided about other career paths (12.6%). Only 12.2% said they prepare because they think the civil service suits their aptitude.

Examinees are studying on their own at a police officer academy in Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Asia Economy DB

Passing the exam is truly at the level of "a camel passing through the eye of a needle."

In 2018, among 155,298 applicants for the national level Grade 9 open competitive exam, more than half?about 80,000?failed due to low scores. A staggering 85% (131,153 applicants) scored below 70 points, which is below the passing line.

Especially, the administrative sector is known among applicants as a group whose pass/fail outcome is unpredictable. This exam applies an adjusted scoring system for elective subjects. Accordingly, the total score is calculated by summing the raw scores of compulsory subjects and the adjusted scores of elective subjects across five subjects to determine successful candidates.

Because of this, it is difficult to predict pass/fail until the list is officially announced. The joys and sorrows of exam preparation vary depending on the applicant’s sector, which is why candidates cannot easily relax their tension. They prepare for the exam with a heart-wrenching determination.

Park, a 28-year-old woman preparing for the court official exam for the second year, said, "I don’t want to show my family a tired expression," and added, "I don’t talk about studying."

Park commutes from home to Noryangjin, saying, "It takes two hours round trip from home to the academy. So commuting is tough, especially in the morning rush hour. It’s physically exhausting." She added, "The exam is in February, but I’m not sure how it will go. Still, I hope for good results."

The so-called 'Noryangjin Cupbap' that you can taste in Noryangjin
Photo by Asia Economy DB

Meanwhile, some students have even taken a leave of absence from university to prepare for the civil service exam. Kim, a 24-year-old woman preparing for the prosecutor exam for six months, said, "I took a leave of absence from school. I live in Noryangjin while preparing, and I really hope to pass."

She said, "My home is in Gumi, Gyeongbuk. I recently went home for the 'New Year’s resolution,' but I felt a lot of psychological pressure and stress and regretted it."

She continued, "I get tired and worried because I have to live looking only forward, but on the other hand, talking with my parents at home has become a chance to encourage myself day by day."

She smiled and said, "There are hard times, but sometimes I’m grateful just to be able to study. I think I can find strength if I think of this as a process to prepare for what I want to do."

Meanwhile, on the same day in Noryangjin, we also met a successful candidate who finished their civil service exam life. Park, 27, who passed the correctional officer exam, said, "It’s been a while since I passed, but I came by to greet the academy teachers nearby," adding, "Even in the new year, there are still many students here. It reminds me of the old days."

He said he had something to say to junior candidates: "I think more people are preparing for the civil service exam because the employment threshold is getting higher. Private companies want a lot and require a lot of preparation, but the civil service exam is relatively fair because you just study and take the exam." He added, "I hope good results come to everyone preparing for the civil service exam."