Gwangju City to Hire 624 Local Public Officials This Year... Three Times Last Year's Intake

Reflecting Administrative Demand from Administrative Integration, Military Airport Relocation, and Expansion of Integrated Care

Gwangju Metropolitan City has expanded this year's hiring of local public officials to about three times last year's level. This measure reflects increased administrative demand driven by preparations for administrative integration between Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, the integrated relocation of civilian and military airports, and the nationwide rollout of the "Gwangju-style Integrated Care" program.

On February 13, Gwangju City announced its 2026 local public official recruitment plan. This year, the city will hire 624 people, about three times more than last year's 210. The figure was set by comprehensively considering projected vacancies in the civil service and staffing needs for new policy initiatives.

Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall. Song Bohyun, Reporter

The recruitment exams will be held twice, in the first and second half of the year. In the first half, the city plans to hire 615 people across 21 job series, including Grade 8 and Grade 9 officials and research officers. In the second half, it plans to hire 9 people across 4 job series, including Grade 7 officials and research officers. By job group, there will be 408 administrative positions, 213 technical positions, and 3 research positions. By grade, there will be 13 Grade 7 officials, 53 Grade 8 officials, 555 Grade 9 officials, and 3 research officers.

By job series, the city will hire: 272 administrative officials (248 general, 7 people with disabilities, 7 from low-income backgrounds, and 10 for the local council), 11 tax officials, 10 IT officials, 107 social welfare officials (101 general and 6 from low-income backgrounds), 8 librarians, 18 industrial technology officials, 8 agricultural officials, 12 urban forestry officials, 8 veterinary officials, 10 health officials, 1 food sanitation official, 4 medical technology officials, 52 nursing officials, 1 primary health care official, 10 environmental officials, 65 facility management officials, 11 disaster and safety officials, 3 broadcasting and communications officials, 5 facility maintenance officials, 2 drivers, 3 research officials, and 3 positions reserved for high school graduates.

To expand opportunities for socially disadvantaged groups to enter public service, Gwangju City will separately recruit 7 people with disabilities, 13 people from low-income backgrounds, and 3 technical high school graduates. For applicants with disabilities and pregnant applicants, the city will provide support such as separate test rooms and enlarged exam papers. It will also improve the system so that all applicants can use the restroom during the exam.

For the technical high school graduate recruitment track, applicants must have completed at least 50% of their total specialized coursework credits in specialized subjects related to the job series. If an applicant has no credits in related specialized coursework, they may apply by obtaining a license related to the job series. However, in that case, additional points for the license will not be granted.

Applications for the first-half exam will be accepted from March 23 to 27, and for the second-half exam from July 20 to 24, through the Local Government Internet Application Center. The written tests will be administered nationwide on June 20 in the first half and October 31 in the second half, and the final successful candidates will be announced in September and December, respectively.