A Total of 5,972 Registrants for the Briefing Session,
Rising Enthusiasm for Civil Service Exams
Tailored Short-Term Passing Strategies Revealed
ST Unitas announced that its specialized civil service exam brands?Gongdangi, Sobangdangi, and Gyeongpolka?successfully held the "2026 National Briefing Session" for prospective exam candidates.
Among the total of 105,111 applicants for the 2025 national level Grade 9 civil service exam, 61.5% were in their twenties, indicating an unprecedented enthusiasm among young people to enter public service. The prolonged economic downturn in recent years and unstable employment conditions in the private sector have placed a significant burden on new entrants to society and soon-to-be university graduates.
In particular, as both large corporations and small- and medium-sized enterprises continue to reduce their recruitment, more young people are turning to the civil service exam in search of stable jobs. This trend goes beyond a simple employment crisis and highlights the growing appeal of civil service as a "lifetime career." The choice of the younger generation to prepare for the future amid economic uncertainty has become a key driver behind the increasing number of civil service exam candidates.
With interest and applications for the civil service exam on the rise, ST Unitas held the "2026 National Briefing Session" from June 28 to July 6 in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu. A total of 5,972 people registered for the event, demonstrating strong interest from prospective civil service candidates for the second consecutive year.
Notably, starting in 2027, the civil service exam subjects will be revised, increasing the number of questions in Korean, English, and specialized subjects from 20 to 25. As a result, candidates are increasingly concerned about insufficient exam time and higher difficulty, which fueled their determination to pass the 2026 exam and led to strong participation in this briefing session.
The briefing session focused on "short-term passing strategies" to address the revised exam system and heightened competition. In particular, the Education Research Institute shared data on "past question correct answer rates" accumulated over 11 years, providing information on competition rates by job category, changes in passing scores, and analysis of exam trends, which was well received. In addition, various programs such as one-on-one consultations with instructors, roundtable discussions, and Q&A sessions allowed for in-depth discussions on individual concerns and study strategies.
The event featured a lineup of star instructors representing each brand, including Lee Seonjae for Korean and Park Juncheol for Administrative Law, as well as newly joined instructors such as Lee Yujin for Korean and Kim Geonho for Administrative Law. Drawing on their extensive teaching experience and data, these instructors presented study strategies tailored to changes in exam trends and job category characteristics, providing systematic know-how for passing the exam.
All attendees received gifts including a Kyochon Chicken gifticon, a Free Pass discount voucher, and a set of seven essential study items. There were also prize draws for high-value items such as an LG Gram laptop, AirPods Max, Dyson Airwrap, and travel vouchers, which further energized the event. Candidates who attended the briefing session agreed that it helped them understand the evolving exam trends and develop concrete strategies suited to their own situations.
A representative from ST Unitas stated, "We could directly feel the passion and enthusiasm of the candidates at the event," and added, "With significant changes in the exam system and competitive environment this year, we prepared a variety of programs to help candidates develop their own short-term passing strategies. We will continue to faithfully fulfill our role as a pacemaker for exam success."
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