Seongju County’s Wonik Lee Passes the Prestigious Architect Qualification Exam

The Only Licensed Architect Among Current Civil Servants
Expectations Rise for Enhanced Architectural Expertise in Seongju County Administration

Wonik Lee, Head of the Architecture Management Team at Seongju County’s Building Permit Department (47, Facility Level 6), has become a topic of conversation after passing the Architect Qualification Exam, often referred to as the “bar exam” of the architecture field.

Seongju County announced that Lee was included in the final list of successful candidates for the “2025 2nd Architect Qualification Exam” administered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Wonik Lee, Head of Architecture Management Team, Seongju County

This achievement is especially meaningful as Lee is the only currently serving architectural civil servant at Seongju County Office, excluding retirees, to have passed the exam.

The Architect Qualification Exam is a national professional certification that can only be taken after completing a practical training program following university graduation.

With an average pass rate of only around 8% for each session, the exam is considered highly challenging and is recognized as a symbol of top-level expertise in the field of architecture.

Despite a heavy administrative workload and handling civil complaints, Lee reportedly devoted his evenings and weekends over several years to study diligently after work.

It is widely regarded that his extensive hands-on experience, accumulated through overseeing building permits and the management of illegal structures, became the foundation for his success in the exam.

A Seongju County official expressed optimism, stating, “With a current team leader obtaining the architect qualification, which demands a high degree of expertise, we expect the quality of Seongju County’s architectural administration services to improve significantly, greatly contributing to the safety and aesthetics of public buildings.”

Wonik Lee commented, “I sincerely thank my family and fellow public officials who quietly supported me throughout the preparation period,” adding, “I will combine my field experience with professional knowledge to provide even more trusted architectural administration to our residents and take the lead in making Seongju County safer and more beautiful.”