'Youngest Successful Candidate at 19'... Level 7 National Civil Service Exam

Average Age of Successful Candidates Drops to 28.2 Years, Down from 28.4 Last Year
Additional Passes Through Disability, Local Talent, and Gender Equality Initiatives

This year, a 19-year-old has passed the national civil service level 7 open competitive recruitment exam, making them the youngest successful candidate since the minimum application age was lowered to 18. A total of 639 candidates passed, with the average age of successful applicants at 28.2 years, slightly lower than last year's 28.4 years.

The Ministry of Personnel Management announced the final list of successful candidates for the level 7 open recruitment exam through the Cyber National Examination Center on December 12. By job category, 466 candidates passed in the administrative sector and 173 in the science and technology sector, with an additional 38 candidates passing through the recruitment quota for persons with disabilities.

On July 7, examinees are waiting for the start of the first round of the national civil service level 7 open competitive recruitment exam at Sudo Electric Technical High School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Looking at the age distribution, those aged 20 to 29 accounted for the largest share at 70.3%, followed by those aged 30 to 39 at 26.9%, those aged 40 to 49 at 2.4%, and those aged 50 and older at 0.3%. Notably, this year saw the emergence of successful candidates aged 19 or younger, reflecting the impact of the lowered minimum application age.

This year's exam implemented both the gender equality recruitment target system and the local talent recruitment target system. Under the gender equality recruitment target system, eight additional candidates were selected in five fields: general machinery, general environment, general civil engineering, transmission technology, and general administration (disability). This system supplements the recruitment of candidates of a particular gender if their number falls below 30% of the planned intake.

Additionally, through the local talent recruitment target system, eight more candidates were selected in three fields-architecture, Korea Post, and foreign affairs consular services-supporting the entry of regional talent into public service.

Final successful candidates must complete their registration as recruitment candidates through the Cyber National Examination Center by December 16. Failure to register within the period will be regarded as a waiver of appointment.