DECREE ON PUBLIC OFFICIALS APPOINTMENT EXAMINATIONS

Article 1(Scope of application) #

(1) Except as otherwise provided in other statutes or regulations, this Decree shall apply to examinations for the appointment of State public officials in general service and foreign service officers (hereinafter referred to as "public officials"); provided, Articles 20,20-2 through 20-5,21 through 23,23-2,23-3,23-4,24,25,and 36 through 46 shall not apply to public officials who work during the term of office on a contractual basis. <Amended on Dec. 18, 2018>

(2) Where this Decree applies to specialized public officials who work during the term of office on a contractual basis (including specialized public officials who have an alternative work schedule and work during the term of office on a contractual basis) and public officials who work temporarily during the term of office on a contractual basis, the ranks shall be deemed to include positions of specialized public officials who work during the term of office on a contractual basis (including specialized public officials who have an alternative work schedule, and work during the term of office on a contractual basis) and public officials who work temporarily during the term of office on a contractual basis corresponding thereto. <Amended on Dec. 16, 2013>

(3) Where this Decree applies to public officials in postal service, public officials in postal service in Grades I and II shall be deemed public officials in general service in Grade VI; public officials in postal service in Grades III, IV, V, and VI shall be deemed public officials in general service in Grade VI; public officials in postal service in Grade VII shall be deemed public officials in general service in Grade VII; public officials in postal service in Grade VIII shall be deemed public officials in general service in Grade VII; and public officials in postal service in Grade IX shall be deemed public officials in general service in Grade IX.

(4) Where this Decree applies to specialized public officials, chief specialized officers shall be deemed public officials in general service in Grade III or IV, and specialized officers shall be deemed public officials in general service in Grade V. <Added on Jan. 10, 2017>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 4, 2013]

Article 2(Principles of administration of examinations) #

(1) Examinations for the appointment of public officials shall be administered for each grade and, for a special series of class, examinations for the appointment of public officials may be administered, divided into each sub-series; provided, where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary to fill vacancies in a smooth manner, he or she may administer examinations for the appointment of public officials, divided into each geographical area in which they are scheduled to work, each agency in which they are scheduled to work, and each area in which they reside; and, where he or she deems it necessary to promote the appointment of persons with disabilities (referring to persons with disabilities under the Act on the Employment Promotion and Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities; hereinafter the same shall apply) or persons in the low income bracket (referring to recipients under the National Basic Living Security Act or persons eligible for support under the Single-Parent Family Support Act for at least two consecutive years; hereinafter the same shall apply) to positions of public officials, he or she may administer an examination for the appointment of public officials by separating a portion of the number of persons to be selected so that only persons with disabilities or persons in the low income bracket may take such examination; and, where subjects tested in examinations provided for in Article 7 are identical among examinations, he or she may conduct examinations by combining the series of classes and sub-series. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Sep. 22, 2020>

(2) The Minister of Personnel Management shall prescribe specific matters concerning the calculation of the period during which persons in the low income bracket under paragraph (1) belong to the low income bracket. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 3(Examination administering agencies) #

(1) The Minister of Personnel Management shall administer any of the following examinations, and the competent Minister (hereinafter referred to as "competent Minister") under subparagraph 3 of Article 2 of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials shall administer other examinations in accordance with a human resource management plan formulated pursuant to Article 8 of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials; provided, where the competent Minister administers an examination for employment (hereinafter referred to as "competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials") under the main clause of and the proviso of Article 28(2) of the State Public Officials Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"), he or she shall consult with the head of a central agency in charge of personnel management under Article 6(1) of the Act about the necessity of the examination, methods of the examination, etc., as prescribed by the Minister of Personnel Management: <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Apr. 4, 2011; Nov. 1, 2011; Nov. 27, 2012; Feb. 20, 2013; Mar. 23, 2013; Dec. 4, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; May 6, 2015>

1. Open competitive examinations for the employment of public officials at least in Grade V, and examinations for the promotion of public officials to Grade V;

2. Open competitive examinations for the employment of public officials in the series of classes of correction, protection, prosecution, narcotics investigation, immigration control, administration, tax matters, customs, social welfare, audit and inspection, industry (referring to the sub-series of general machinery, electricity, chemical engineering), agriculture (referring to the sub-series of general agriculture), infrastructure (referring to the sub-series of urban planning, general civil engineering, architecture, traffic facilities, urban transportation planning), the series of classes of computerization in Grade VI or lower;

3. Open competitive examinations for the employment of foreign service officers and open competitive examinations (hereinafter referred to as "examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates") under the proviso of Article 10(1) of the Foreign Service Officials Act;

4. Competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials in Grade V (excluding public officials who work during the term of office on a contractual basis);

5. Competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials in Grade VII (excluding public officials who work during the term of office on a contractual basis) the Minister of Personnel Management deems necessary.

(2) The competent Minister may delegate his or her authority to administer an examination under paragraph (1) to the head of the agency under his or her jurisdiction to whom authority to appoint public officials has been delegated pursuant to Article 5 of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials or the head of the agency superior to the aforesaid agency. <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009>

(3) Where the head of the examination administering agency (including the head of the examination administering agency, to whom authority to administer the examination has been delegated pursuant to paragraph (2)) deems it necessary, he or she may administer the examination for the appointment of public officials wholly or partially in cooperation with the head of another agency conducting examinations or a non-governmental institution, or by entrusting such examination to the said head or institution. In such cases, necessary matters concerning the registration of candidates for appointment and recommendation for the appointment of public officials, and the implementation of the examination in cooperation with the head of another agency administering examinations or a non-governmental institution or by entrusting such examination to the said head or institution shall be prescribed by relevant agencies through consultation among the said agencies. <Amended on Jun. 29, 2012>

(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)4, where it is necessary for the competent Minister to urgently fill vacancies or to select persons in the special fields or specific positions, he or she may directly conduct a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials in Grade V in consultation with the Minister of Personnel Management. <Added on Apr. 4, 2011; Nov. 1, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 4(Duties of heads of examination administering agencies) #

(1) The head of the examination administering agency shall take charge of the public announcement and implementation of the examination, determination, and notification of persons who pass the examination, preparation of a list of candidates for appointment, and other matters necessary to conduct the examination.

(2) In order to conduct an examination in a smooth manner, the head of an examination administering agency may request the head of another examination administering agency and the head of the administrative agency related to the relevant examination to provide cooperation necessary to administer the examination, such as preparation of the place where the examination is to be conducted and the dispatch of proctors, and may request relevant agencies to provide cooperation necessary to maintain order.

(3) Where it is necessary when the head of the examination administering agency determines those passing the examination, he or she shall gather related data from the heads of schools from which they graduated and utilize such data.

(4) Where persons with disabilities take an examination, the head of an examination administering agency may provide the persons with disabilities with necessary accommodations in accordance with the types and degrees of disabilities.

(5) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary for efficient and fair management of matters concerning the administration of the examination under paragraph (1), he or she may establish an advisory committee consisted of nongovernmental experts, relevant public officials, etc. and require the advisory committee to deliberate on matters concerning the administration of the examination, such as the implementation of the examination, determination of persons who pass the examination. <Added on Nov. 27, 2012>

(6) The head of an examination-administering institution may, at the request of the relevant applicant, provide the type of examination, examination scores (grades), etc. in the examination conducted under Article 5(2) and (4) (including the public service qualification assessment under Article 5-2) to any one of the following institutions: <Added on Aug. 1, 2023; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. Other agencies that administer examinations for public officials;

2. Public institutions under the Act on the Management of Public Institutions;

3. Local government-invested public corporations or local public agencies under the Local Public Enterprises Act;

4. Other agencies deemed necessary by the Minister of Personnel Management.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 5(Methods of examinations) #

(1) Applicants who ultimately pass an examination shall be determined through a written examination, oral examination, practical examination, document screening, etc.

(2) A written examination shall be administered to examine the level of general education, knowledge necessary to perform the relevant duties, and the ability to apply knowledge.

(3) An oral examination shall be administered to examine the attitude and bearing as a public official, the ability and competence, etc. necessary to perform the relevant duties, and all the following elements of assessment shall be rated as excellent, fair, or poor, respectively; provided, if the head of an examination administering agency deems it necessary, other elements of assessment may be added and rated as excellent, fair, or poor: <Amended on Aug. 1, 2013>

1. Communication and sympathy: The ability to communicate and sympathize with the public, etc.;

2. Commitment and passion: Commitment to the State and passionate attitude towards duties;

3. Creativity and innovativeness: Creativity and the ability to drive innovation;

4. Ethics and responsibility: The sense of ethics and responsibility as a public official.

(4) A practical examination shall be administered to examine knowledge, skills or physical aptitude necessary to perform the relevant duties through the method of a test, practice, or display of practical skills.

(5) Document screening shall be conducted in writing through the examination of whether qualifications, work history, etc. of applicants related to the performance of the relevant duties meet the prescribed criteria, and applicants shall be judged as either qualified or disqualified.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 5-2(Public service qualification assessment) #

(1) The Minister of Personnel Management may administer an assessment to evaluate competencies required for the performance of public duties, so that the results thereof may be used as recruitment materials for the recruitment of public officials and for recruitment in various other public sectors (hereinafter referred to as the "public service qualification assessment").

(2) The public service qualification assessment may be administered by being classified into a basic assessment and an advanced assessment, in consideration of the level of difficulty of the assessment, the rank of positions to be filled, etc., and the subjects of each assessment shall be as follows:

1. Basic: Verbal reasoning, data interpretation, and situational judgment;

2. Advanced: Verbal reasoning, data interpretation, situational judgment, and the Constitution.

(3) A person who intends to take the public service qualification assessment shall be 18 years of age or older in the year in which the scheduled date of the assessment falls.

(4) Matters necessary for the administration of the public service qualification assessment, other than those provided in paragraphs (1) through (3), shall be determined by the Minister of Personnel Management.

[This Article Added on Jun. 2, 2025]

Article 6(Steps of examinations) #

(1) In the examination for appointment conducted, which is divided into a primary examination, secondary examination and tertiary examination, the applicants who fail to pass the primary examination shall not be invited to the secondary examination; and the applicants who fail to pass the secondary examination shall not be invited to the tertiary examination; provided, the head of the examination administering agency may administer examination for a grade whose details of duties are special by changing the sequence of the steps of the examination administered. In such cases, unless applicants pass the examination in the preceding step, such applicants shall not be invited to the examination in the following step.

(2) Where the head of the examination administering agency administers a competitive examination, etc. for employment of experienced public officials, an examination for changing jobs, and an examination for the general promotion of public officials to Grade V step by step pursuant to paragraph (1), in which case he or she deems it necessary, notwithstanding paragraph (1), he or she may administer the examination in the following step before he or she determines the applicants who pass the examination in the preceding step. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 7(Subjects tested in examination) #

(1) The examination subjects for each type of examination shall be as specified in Appendices 1 and 2; provided, among the examination subjects specified in Appendices 1 and 2, the examination subjects specified in any of the following subparagraphs shall be substituted with the examination or the public service qualification assessment prescribed in the relevant subparagraph: <Amended on Nov. 27, 2012; Oct. 8, 2014; May 6, 2015; Dec. 18, 2018; Nov. 30, 2021; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. English, among the subjects tested in the primary examination of the following: The English proficiency test prescribed in Appendix 3:

a. The open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V;

b. The examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates;

c. The open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VII (including the open competitive examination for the employment of foreign service officers corresponding thereto).

2. A foreign language as an optional subject, among the following examinations: A foreign language proficiency test prescribed in Appendix 3-2 limited to the foreign languages prescribed in Appendix 3-2:

a. The primary examination of the examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the field of general diplomacy;

b. The secondary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of foreign service officers equivalent to Grade VII in the series of class of consular affairs;

3. Among the first-stage examinations of the following examinations, the Korean history subject: The Korean History Proficiency Test prescribed in Appendix 4:

a. The open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V;

b. The examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates;

c. The open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VII (including the open competitive examination for the employment of foreign service officers corresponding thereto).

d. The open competitive examination for public officials of Grade IX;

4. Among the following examinations, the verbal reasoning, data interpretation, and situational judgment subjects, and the Constitution (limited, in the case of the Constitution, to the examinations under items a and b): The public service qualification assessment specified in Appendix 4-2:

a. The first-stage examination of the open competitive examination for employment of public officials of Grade V;

b. The first-stage examination of the selection examination for foreign service official candidates;

c. The first-stage examination of the open competitive examination for employment of public officials of Grade VII (including the open competitive examination for employment of foreign service officials equivalent thereto);

d. An examination in which the first-stage examination and the second-stage examination are administered in an integrated manner with the verbal reasoning, data interpretation, and situational judgment subjects as examination subjects pursuant to Article 8(4).

(2) The competent Minister shall determine the subjects to be tested in examinations for occupational groups, the series of classes and sub-series not prescribed in Appendix 1 in accordance with the details of duties to be performed. In such cases, the subjects tested in the examination shall be at least two subjects including the subjects tested in the examination related to duties to be performed.

(3) Where public officials are employed through a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials, etc. pursuant to Article 28(2)6,8 and 12 of the Act, notwithstanding paragraph (1), the subject tested in the primary examination shall be the History of Korea; and the head of the examination requesting agency shall determine the subjects to be tested in the secondary examination based on the following classification in consultation with the head of the examination administering agency: <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Nov. 1, 2011>

1. In case of employment under Article 28(2)6 and 12 of the Act: One subject among the subjects tested in the secondary examination of competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials, etc. for each grade to which they are scheduled to be appointed under Appendix 1;

2. In case of employment under Article 28(2)8 of the Act: One subject among foreign languages and one subject among the subjects tested in the secondary examination of competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials for each grade to which they are scheduled to be appointed under Appendix 1.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 8(Change of subjects tested in examination) #

(1) Where the head of the examination requesting agency (in case of an open competitive examination for employment, referring to the head of the examination administering agency, and in case of an examination the Minister of Personnel Management directly administers pursuant to Article 26(3), referring to the Minister of Personnel Management; hereafter the same shall apply in this Chapter) administers a competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials under the main clause, with the exception of the subparagraphs, of Article 28(2) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials"), notwithstanding Article 7(1) and (3), he or she may determine different subjects tested in the examination. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Dec. 5, 2023>

(2) Where the head of the examination requesting agency deems it inappropriate to conduct an examination on the subjects of the examination under Article 7(1) and (3) in consideration of the unique characteristics of duties or the correlation between duties and subjects tested, he or she may change, reduce, or increase the number of subjects tested in the examination. <Added on Dec. 5, 2023>

(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the following subjects shall not be otherwise determined, or changed, reduced, or increased: <Added on Dec. 5, 2023>

1. Subjects tested in examination for changing jobs;

2. Compulsory subjects from among the examination subjects for each grade to which test takers are scheduled to be appointed as specified in Appendices 1 and 2 in the examination not intended for a large number of people under the proviso of Article 28(2) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as the "examination for employment not intended for a large number of people").

(4) Notwithstanding Article 7(1) and (3), the primary and secondary phases of the written part of the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials in Grade V, etc. and the examination for the employment of foreign service officers in Grade V (referring to the examination under the main clause of and the proviso of Article 10(3) of the Foreign Service Officials Act; hereinafter referred to as "competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced persons for positions of foreign service officers") under Article 3(1)4 and the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced persons for positions of public officials in Grade VII under Article 3(1)5 may be concurrently administered. In such cases, the language and logic field, the data interpretation field, and the situation analysis field which are the subjects tested in the primary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of persons for positions of public officials at least in Grade V specified in Appendix 1 may be the subjects tested in the examination. <Added on Apr. 4, 2011; Nov. 1, 2011; Jun. 29, 2012; Oct. 8, 2014; May 6, 2015; Dec. 5, 2023>

(5) Where the Minister of Personnel Management administers an examination for the general promotion of public officials to Grade V, notwithstanding Article 7(1), he or she may decrease the number of subjects tested in the examination. <Added on Jun. 29, 2012; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Dec. 5, 2023>

(6) Subjects for examination determined otherwise pursuant to paragraph (1) or subjects to be tested in examination changed, reduced, or increased pursuant to paragraph (2), and subjects for examination under paragraph (4) shall be publicly announced pursuant to Article 47 or notified to applicants. <Amended on Apr. 4, 2011; Jun. 29, 2012; Dec. 5, 2023>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 9(Designation of subjects tested in examination) #

(1) Where the head of the examination requesting agency deems that it is necessary to administer the examination by designating a specific subject among the subjects that should be selected in the subjects tested in the examination under Article 7(1) in consideration of the special characteristics of the duties or the correlation between the duties and subjects tested in the examination, he or she may designate such subject in consultation with the head of the examination administering agency.

(2) Where the head of the examination requesting agency deems it necessary, he or she may limit the covered range of the questions about the subjects tested in the examination under Articles 7(1) and (3) and 8(1) in consultation with the head of the examination administering agency.

(3) In case of an examination for general promotion, where the head of the examination requesting agency intends to designate the subjects tested in the examination or to limit covered range of the questions about the subjects tested in the examination pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), he or she shall consult with the head of the examination administering agency one year before the date he or she requests for the examination.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 10(Simultaneous implementation of practical examination) #

(1) Where the head of the examination requesting agency deems it necessary, notwithstanding Articles 22,24,29,37,39 and 43, he or she may administer a practical examination simultaneously or add a subject tested in the practical examination as a special subject tested in consultation with the head of the examination administering agency when he or she administers the examination about the subjects under Articles 7 and 8. In such cases, he or she may set the perfect score of subjects tested in the examination conducted together with the practical examination or the perfect score of the practical examination added as a special subject tested differently from that of the other subjects tested. <Amended on May 6, 2015>

(2) Where the practical examination is administered pursuant to paragraph (1), the head of the examination requesting agency shall determine the specific method of conducting the practical examination, the method of determining the successful applicants and other matters necessary to conduct the practical examination. <Added on May 6, 2015>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Jan. 5, 2021]

Article 11(Perfect score in subjects tested in examination) #

(1) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, he or she may determine the perfect score in some subjects tested in the examination under Appendices 1 and 2 differently from the perfect score in the other subjects tested in the examination. In such cases, he or she shall publicly announce the details thereof in the Official Gazette, and the details thereof publicly announced shall apply one year after the date of the public announcement thereof.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the perfect score for each compulsory subject in the secondary examination of an open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V specified in Appendix 1 shall be determined equal. <Amended on Nov. 15, 2022>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 12(Level of questions) #

The level of the questions in the examinations for appointment shall be high enough to examine matters based on the following classification; provided, the Minister of Personnel Management may separately determine the level of questions for the examination in a special grade: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

1. Examinations for public officials at least in Grade V: Ability and knowledge necessary to plan and manage policies;

2. Examinations for public officials in Grades VI and VII: Ability and knowledge necessary to perform specialized administrative affairs;

3. Examinations for public officials in Grade VIII or lower: Basic ability and knowledge necessary to perform administrative affairs;

4. Deleted. <Dec. 4, 2013>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 13(Appointment of examiners) #

(1) The head of the examination administering agency may appoint or commission any of the following persons as examiners in charge of making questions and grading the tests for the examination, oral examination, practical examination, document screening and other matters necessary to conduct the examination. In such cases, the examiners in charge of making questions and grading the tests for each subject in the written examination, and examiners in charge of the oral examination and document screening shall be at least two persons (the examiners in charge of the oral examination portion of the examination for the employment of public officials at least in Grade V shall be at least three persons); and at least half of the examiners shall be public officials belonging to another administrative agency or civilians, as prescribed by the Minister of Personnel Management: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

1. A person who has specialized knowledge or ability in the field of the relevant duties;

2. A person who has specialized knowledge concerning the devising of the questions for the examination;

3. A person who has thorough knowledge of the practical business concerning the duties to which the public officials are scheduled to be appointed.

(2) A person appointed or commissioned as an examiner pursuant to paragraph (1) shall faithfully implement the matters to be attended to in the preparation of questions for the examination and the matters to be observed, such as a written oath, requested by the head of the examination administering agency.

(3) Where there is an examiner who has performed an act significantly compromising the confidence in the examination in violation of paragraph (2), the head of the examination administering agency shall notify the heads of all central administrative agencies and the agency to which such examiner belongs, of the list of such examiners. In such cases, he or she shall request the head of the agency to which the relevant examiner belongs to take appropriate measures, such as a disciplinary action against the examiner.

(4) Where the head of the examination administering agency receives a notification pursuant to paragraph (3), he or she shall not appoint or commission the relevant examiner as an examiner of any examination under this Decree or other examinations for appointment of State public officials for five years from the date he or she receives such notification.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 14(Physical examination) #

(1) Where the appointing authority employs public officials (including the selection of persons to work as probationers under Article 26-4(1) of the Act; hereafter the same shall apply in this paragraph), he or she shall conduct physical examinations under Article 3-2 of the Regulations on Physical Examination for Employment of Public Officials, and he or she shall not employ any person who fails to meet the criteria for passing the physical examination as a public official; provided, where he or she employs any former State public official or local public official who retired as a State public official, to whom the same criteria for passing physical examination apply, within six months from the date he or she retires, and appoints a person who works as a probationer pursuant to Article 26-4(1) of the Act as a public official, he or she need not conduct a physical examination. <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014; Sep. 25, 2015>

(2) Where the appointing authority or the appointment recommendation authority transfers a public official to whom different criteria for failing to pass physical examination under Article 4 of the Regulations on Physical Examination for Employment of Public Officials apply, he or she may conduct a physical examination pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) Notwithstanding the main clause of paragraph (1), in any of the following cases, documents issued by the National Health Insurance Service showing the results of a general health checkup may be submitted in lieu of conducting a physical examination under Article 52(2)1 of the National Health Insurance Act: <Added on Dec. 5, 2023>

1. Where the appointing authority or the appointment recommendation authority employs public officials of a series of classes or sub-series taking into account the unique characteristics of their duties;

2. Where the appointing authority or the appointment-recommendation authority employs public officials to a position determined in consideration of the unique characteristics of their duties and other factors in a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 15(Grounds for disqualification for taking examinations) #

(1) No person who is not eligible to be appointed as a public official pursuant to the Act or other statutes or regulations shall take an examination for appointment.

(2) Whether a person is disqualified for taking an examination under paragraph (1) shall be determined as of the scheduled date of the final examination (hereinafter referred to as "scheduled date of the final examination") of the relevant examination; provided, in case of an examination for the employment of public officials not intended for a large number of people, where the head of the examination requesting agency is different from the head of the examination administering agency , whether a person is disqualified for taking an examination under paragraph (1) shall be determined as of the date the examination is requested. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 16(Age eligible to take examinations) #

(1) A person who intends to take an examination for the employment of public officials shall be at least 18 years of age in the year to which the scheduled date of the final examination belongs; provided, a person who intends to apply for an examination for the employment of public officials in the series of class of correction or protection shall be at least 20 years of age in the year to which the scheduled date of the final examination belongs. <Amended on Nov. 15, 2022>

(2) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems the application of the age eligible to take an examination under paragraph (1) difficult or inappropriate because he or she should quickly fill vacancies or because of other extraordinary circumstances, he or she may, as an exception, determine the age eligible to take an examination for an examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower after obtaining approval from the Minister of Personnel Management. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Dec. 4, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 17(Prohibition of restriction based on educational background) #

Except as otherwise prescribed by this Decree and other statutes or regulations, educational background shall not be a cause for restriction from taking an examination for employment of public officials.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 18(Certificate of qualification necessary to take examinations) #

(1) A person who takes an examination for the employment of public officials in the grades prescribed in Appendix 5 and examination for changing jobs shall hold a certificate of qualification prescribed in the aforesaid Appendix.

(2) Article 15(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to whether an applicant holds a certificate of qualification under paragraph (1). In such cases, "whether he or she has a reason for disqualification for taking an examination" shall be deemed "whether he or she holds a certificate of qualification." <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 19(Exceptions to eligibility to take examinations) #

(1) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems that he or she will be unable to fill vacancies if he or she applies Article 18, he or she may choose not apply Article 18 after obtaining approval from the Minister of Personnel Management. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

(2) In case of an open competitive examination for employment, where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, in consideration of the appointment of the persons who pass the examination to the region to which the successful exam takers have a connection and other regional characteristics, he or she may conduct the examination by limiting the eligibility to sit for the examination to persons who have been residing in a certain region for a certain period.

(3) In case of a competitive examination for employment of experienced public officials, where the head of the examination administering agency only deems it extraordinarily necessary for the performance of duties of the positions to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed, he or she may administer the examination by limiting the eligibility to sit for the examination, by measures such as imposing of age, education background, and residence requirements. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 20(Success of males or females in examination exceeding the number of persons to be selected) #

(1) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary to provide more opportunities for equal appointment of public officials to males and females, notwithstanding Articles 23,23-3,23-4,25,30, and 40, he or she may allow males or females to pass the examination exceeding the number of persons to be selected so that males or females may temporarily account for more than the percentage of the number of persons to be selected in each step of the examination conducted. <Amended on Nov. 27, 2012; Dec. 18, 2018>

(2) Where the head of the examination administering agency allows males or females to pass the examination pursuant to paragraph (1), he or she shall determine the kinds of examinations intended to be administered for such purposes, the percentage of the employment objective, methods of determining the persons who pass the examination, and other matters necessary to conduct examinations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 20-2(Success of local talented people in examination exceeding the number of persons to be selected) #

(1) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary to provide more opportunities for appointment of local talented people to positions of public officials, notwithstanding Articles 23,23-3,23-4, and 25, he or she may allow local talented people to pass the examination exceeding the number of persons to be selected so that the local talented people may temporarily account for more than a certain percentage of the number of persons to be selected in an examination falling under any item of Article 7(1)1. <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014; Dec. 18, 2018>

(2) The term "local talented people" in paragraph (1) means graduates and prospective graduates of the universities located in the areas other than Seoul Metropolitan City or people who ultimately graduated from the said schools, left schools without completing the course, are attending the said schools, or are temporarily withdrawing from the said schools, located in areas other than Seoul Metropolitan City.

(3) Where the head of the examination administering agency allows local talented people to pass the examination pursuant to paragraph (1), he or she shall determine the local talented people eligible to pass the examination, a percentage of the employment objective, methods of determining the persons who pass the examination, and other matters necessary to conduct the examination.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 20, 2013]

Article 20-3(Provision of more opportunities for employment of persons with severe disabilities) #

(1) Where necessary to provide more opportunities for appointment of persons with severe disabilities (referring to persons with severe disabilities under the Act on the Employment Promotion and Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities; hereafter the same shall apply in this Article) to the positions of public officials, the head of the examination administering agency, who conducts a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials, may allow persons with severe disabilities only to apply for the relevant competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

(2) Where the head of the agency conducts a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials pursuant to paragraph (1), the head of the agency conducting such examination shall determine the kinds of duties for which such examination is conducted, the kinds of disabilities a person may have and still apply for an examination for each kind of duties, and other matters necessary to conduct the examination. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

(3) The Minister of Personnel Management shall formulate and implement the necessary plans, such as identification of the kinds of duties suitable for persons with disabilities to perform and the provision thereof to the head of the examination administering agency, to provide more opportunities for the appointment of persons with severe disabilities to positions of public officials. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 20-4(Examinations for employment of people in low-income bracket) #

(1) Where the head of the examination administering agency administers an open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade IX and competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials in Grade IX, he or she shall administer such examinations so that people in the low-income bracket may be employed in accordance with the following classifications, as determined by the Minister of Personnel Management: <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014; Nov. 19, 2014>

1. Open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade IX: At least two percent of the number of persons to be selected;

2. Competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials in Grade IX: At least one percent of the number of persons to be selected.

(2) Notwithstanding Article 25, the head of the examination administering agency may allow people in the low-income bracket who obtain a score higher than the score obtained by successful applicants at an examination other than a separate examination intended for persons with disabilities and people in the low-income bracket, from an open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade IX conducted separately, so that only people in the low-income bracket may apply for the examination pursuant to the proviso of Article 2(1), to pass the examination exceeding the number of persons to be selected in each step of the examination conducted. <Added on Nov. 1, 2011; Jun. 29, 2012>

(3) Where the head of the examination administering agency allows people in the low-income bracket to pass the examination pursuant to paragraph (2), he or she shall determine people eligible to pass the examination, methods of determining people who pass the examination, and other matters necessary to conduct the examination. <Added on Nov. 1, 2011>

(4) Deleted. <Dec. 4, 2013>

[This Article Added on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Nov. 1, 2011]

Article 20-5(Success of persons with disabilities in examination exceeding number of persons to be selected) #

(1) Notwithstanding Article 25, the head of the examination administering agency may allow persons with disabilities who obtain a score higher than the score obtained by successful applicants at an examination other than a separate examination intended for persons with disabilities and people in the low-income bracket, from an open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower and the open competitive examination for the employment of foreign service officers in Grade IV or lower (hereinafter referred to as "open competitive examination, etc. for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower") conducted separately, so that only persons with disabilities may apply for the examination pursuant to the proviso of Article 2(1), to pass the examination exceeding the number of persons to be selected in each step of the examination administered. <Amended on Jun. 29, 2012>

(2) Where the head of the examination administering agency allows persons with disabilities pass the examination pursuant to paragraph (1), he or she shall determine persons with disabilities eligible to pass the examination, methods of determining persons with disabilities who pass the examination, and other matters necessary to administer the examination.

[This Article Added on Nov. 1, 2011]

Article 21(Series of classes for which examinations are to be administered by means of open competitive examinations for employment of public officials in Grade V) #

A series of classes for which examinations are to be conducted by means of open competitive examinations for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be as specified in Appendix 6.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Oct. 8, 2014]

Article 22(Methods of open competitive examinations for employment of public officials in Grade V) #

(1) An open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be conducted by dividing it into a primary examination, secondary examination, and tertiary examination. <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014>

(2) In principle, the primary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be administered using multiple-choice questions, and fill-in-the-blank items may be included therein. <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014>

(3) In principle, the secondary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be conducted using essay items, and subjective short-answer items for each subject may be included therein. <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014>

(4) The tertiary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be administered by means of an oral examination or practical examination; Provided, That where the head of the examination administering agency deems necessary due to the extraordinary characteristics of duties, he or she may administer both the oral examination and the practical examination; in such cases, the head of the examination administering agency or the competent Minister shall determine the method of determining persons who pass the practical examination. <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Oct. 8, 2014>

(5) Where both the oral examination and the practical examination are administered, the oral examination shall be administered intended for persons who pass the practical examination.

(6) A person who fails to pass the tertiary examination shall be exempted from the primary examination, limited to the next examination; provided, this shall apply only where the person submits an application form of the relevant examination from which he or she intended to be exempted. <Added on Oct. 8, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Oct. 8, 2014]

Article 23(Determination of success in open competitive examinations for employment of public officials in Grade V) #

(1) Persons who pass the primary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be determined one by one beginning with the persons who obtain the highest scores, in consideration of the scores in the examination, the number of applicants for the secondary examination, etc. within 10 times the number of persons to be selected from among persons who satisfy all the requirements in order of the following subparagraphs: <Amended on Dec. 18, 2018>

1. Receiving passing score for the English proficiency test specified in Appendix 3 and passing grade in the Korean History Proficiency Test specified in Appendix 4, respectively;

2. To score at least 60 percent of the perfect score in the test for the Constitution;

3. Obtaining scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject other than English, the History of Korea, and the Constitution, and at least 60 percent of the total scores from all the subjects.

(2) Persons who pass the secondary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be determined one by one beginning with the persons who obtain the highest total scores in all subjects, in consideration of scores in the examination, the number of applicants for the tertiary examination, etc. within 150 percent of the number of persons to be selected (where the number of persons to be selected does not exceed three, within the number of persons obtained by adding two to the number of persons to be selected; hereinafter the same shall apply) from among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject; provided, where both the practical examination and the oral examination are administered in the tertiary examination pursuant to the proviso of Article 22(4), persons who pass the secondary examination may be determined within twice the number of persons to be selected. <Amended on Apr. 4, 2011; Oct. 8, 2014>

(3) The results of evaluation of the oral examination of the tertiary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be divided into the following grades: <Amended on Apr. 22, 2013; Oct. 8, 2014; Aug. 1, 2023>

1. Where a majority of examiners assess all the elements of assessment under Article 5(3) as "excellent": "Excellent";

2. Where a majority of examiners assess at least two elements of assessment under Article 5(3) as "poor", or a majority of examiners assess the same element of assessment as "poor": "Poor";

3. In cases other than subparagraphs 1 and 2: "Fair".

(4) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary to secure objectivity and fairness of the oral examination in accordance with the standards prescribed by the Minister of Personnel Management in consideration of grades under paragraph (3), the number of applicants, the number of persons to be selected, the method of oral examination, etc., he or she may administer an additional oral examination for the applicants who have received a grade of "excellent" or "poor." In such cases, notwithstanding paragraph (3), an applicant who has received a grade same as the grade of the first oral examination shall be deemed to have received the grade of the final oral examination, and an applicant who has received a grade different from the grade of the first oral examination shall be deemed to have received a grade of "fair". <Added on Apr. 22, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

(5) Persons who ultimately pass the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V shall be determined through the following methods in accordance with the grade of the oral examination under paragraphs (3) and (4) and the scores in the secondary examination: <Added on Apr. 22, 2013; Oct. 8, 2014>

1. Applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" shall be deemed to have passed the examination; provided, where the number of applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" exceeds the number of persons to be selected, such applicants shall be deemed to have passed the examination one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest scores in the second-stage examination until the number of such persons reaches the number of persons to be selected;

2. Applicants who have received the grade of "fair" shall be deemed to have passed the examination one by one beginning with persons who obtain high scores in the second-stage examination until the number of such persons including the number of applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" reaches the number of persons to be selected;

3. Applicants who have received the grade of "poor" shall be deemed to have failed to pass the examination.

(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), where the number of applicants for the tertiary examination is expected to be less than the number of persons to be selected due to circumstances in which persons who pass the secondary examination forgo to take the tertiary examination when persons who pass the secondary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V are determined, additional persons who pass the secondary examination may be determined one by one beginning with the persons who obtain the highest total scores in all subjects among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject within the original number of persons who pass the secondary examination. <Amended on Apr. 22, 2013; Oct. 8, 2014>

(7) Where it is necessary to fill vacancies due to circumstances in which persons who ultimately pass the examination waive their appointment to positions of public officials, the head of the examination administering agency may determine additional persons who pass the examination one by one beginning with the persons who obtain the highest scores in the secondary examination among those who have not failed to meet the standards for passing the examination within six months from date of announcement of the persons who pass the examination. <Added on Apr. 22, 2013; Jan. 31, 2017>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Oct. 8, 2014]

Article 23-2(Methods of examinations for selection of foreign service officer candidates) #

(1) Examinations for the selection of foreign service officer candidates may be administered by dividing them into the following fields in accordance with the demand, etc. for foreign and trade affairs. In such cases, examinations for the selection of foreign service officer candidates may be administered by dividing the number of persons to be selected into the combination of related regions and languages in cases under subparagraph 2 and the related specialty fields in cases under subparagraph 3:

1. Field of general diplomacy: Field in which candidates are selected to respond to demand for the affairs concerning foreign affairs and trade as a whole;

2. Field of regional diplomacy: Field in which candidates are selected to respond to demand for the affairs concerning foreign affairs and trade in a specific region;

3. Field of specialty in diplomatic relations: Field in which candidates are selected to respond to demand for the affairs that require specialty, such as the affairs concerning international trade or international law.

(2) An examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates shall be conducted by dividing it into a primary examination, secondary examination, and tertiary examination. In such cases, the details of the implementation of each step of each examination shall be as follows: <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014; Dec. 18, 2018>

1. Field of general diplomacy: Articles 22(2) through (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis;

2. Field of regional diplomacy: Any item of the following shall apply:

a. A primary examination: A written examination of multiple-choice questions;

b. A secondary examination: A document screening. In such cases, notwithstanding Article 5(5), persons who pass document screening may be determined in accordance with the standards appropriate for the duties to which the public officials are scheduled to be appointed which the head of the examination administering agency has prescribed;

c. A tertiary examination: An oral examination; provided, the head of the examination administering agency conducting examinations may administer the oral examination by dividing it into two phases to verify the expertise including knowledge of the relevant field.

(3) Persons who have not been appointed, among those who have completed the regular course of study under Article 6(1) of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy Act, shall be exempted from the primary examination among the examinations under paragraph (2), limited to the first examination administered after they have not been appointed; provided, this shall apply where they submit an application form for the relevant examination. <Added on Oct. 8, 2014>

(4) In case of the field of regional diplomacy among examinations for the selection of foreign service officer candidates, where an applicant meets the requirements for a career in the examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates under Appendix 2-2 of the Decree on the Appointment of Foreign Service Officers, the standard score in the foreign language proficiency test that replaces a foreign language as an optional subject shall apply thereto by dividing the standard score pursuant to Appendix 3-2. <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014>

(5) The head of the examination administering agency may assess the ability to use foreign languages, such as conversation and the ability to construct sentences, concerning the foreign languages not prescribed in Appendix 3-2 among the optional subjects in the primary examination of the examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the language certification test conducted before the tertiary examination. <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014; Dec. 30, 2015>

[This Article Added on Nov. 27, 2012]

[The amended provisions of Article 23-2(2)2 of the Addenda to the Presidential Decree No. 29374 (Dec. 18, 2018) shall be effective until December 31, 2020 pursuant to Article 2 of the Addenda to that Act]

Article 23-3(Determination of pass in examination for selection of foreign service officer candidates in field of general diplomacy) #

(1) Persons who pass the primary examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates shall be determined in order of scores specified in subparagraph 3 from the highest, in consideration of scores in the examination, the number of applicants for the secondary examination, etc., within 10 times the number of persons to be selected from among persons who meet all requirements in order of the following: In such cases, the number of persons exempted from the primary examination pursuant to Article 23-2(2)1 and paragraph (3) of the same Article shall not be included within 10 times the number of persons to be selected: <Amended on Dec. 18, 2018>

1. To obtain at least the relevant passing score or grade in the English proficiency test specified in Appendix 3, in the foreign language proficiency test specified in Appendix 3-2, and in the Korean History Proficiency Test specified in Appendix 4;

2. To score at least 60 percent of the perfect score in the test for the Constitution;

3. To score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject other than English, the History of Korea, and the Constitution, and at least 60 percent of the total scores of all subjects.

(2) Persons who pass the secondary examination of the examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the field of general diplomacy shall be determined one by one beginning with the persons who obtain the highest total scores in all subjects, in consideration of scores in the examination, the number of applicants for the tertiary examination, etc., within 1.5 times the number of persons to be selected from among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject; provided, where the ability to use foreign languages is assessed by the language certification test pursuant to Article 23-2(5), persons who pass the secondary examination may be determined in consideration of scores in the examination, the number of applicants for the tertiary examination, etc. within five times the number of persons to be selected. <Amended on Oct. 8, 2014; Dec. 30, 2015; Dec. 18, 2018>

(3) The results of assessment of the oral examination of the tertiary examination of the examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the field of general diplomacy shall be divided into the following grades: <Amended on Apr. 22, 2013; Dec. 18, 2018; Aug. 1, 2023>

1. Where a majority of examiners assess all the elements of assessment under Article 5(3) as "excellent": "Excellent";

2. Where a majority of examiners assess at least two elements of assessment under Article 5(3) as "poor", or a majority of examiners assess the same element of assessment as "poor": "Poor";

3. In cases other than subparagraphs 1 and 2: "Fair".

(4) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary to secure objectivity and fairness of the oral examination in accordance with the standards prescribed by the Minister of Personnel Management in consideration of grades under paragraph (3), the number of applicants, the number of persons to be selected, the method of oral examination, etc., he or she may administer an additional oral examination for the applicants who have received a grade of "excellent" or "poor." In such cases, notwithstanding paragraph (3), an applicant who has received a grade same as the grade of the first oral examination shall be deemed to have received the grade of the final oral examination, and an applicant who has received a grade different from the grade of the first oral examination shall be deemed to have received a grade of "fair". <Added on Apr. 22, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

(5) Persons who ultimately pass the examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the field of general diplomacy shall be determined through the following methods in accordance with the grade of the oral examination under paragraphs (3) and (4) and the scores in the secondary examination; provided, where the ability to use foreign languages is assessed by the language certification test pursuant to Article 23-2(5), persons who ultimately pass the examination shall be determined from among those who obtain the score higher than the standard score in the language certification test prescribed in Appendix 6-2: <Added on Apr. 22, 2013; Dec. 30, 2015; Dec. 18, 2018>

1. Applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" shall be deemed to have passed the examination; provided, where the number of applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" exceeds the number of persons to be selected, such applicants shall be deemed to have passed the examination one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest scores in the second-stage examination until the number of such persons reaches the number of persons to be selected;

2. Applicants who have received the grade of "fair" shall be deemed to have passed the examination one by one beginning with persons who obtain high scores in the second-stage examination until the number of such persons including the number of applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" reaches the number of persons to be selected;

3. Applicants who have received the grade of "poor" shall be deemed to have failed to pass the examination.

(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), where the number of applicants for the tertiary examination is expected to be less than the number of persons to be selected due to circumstances in which persons who pass the secondary examination choose not to take the tertiary examination when persons who pass the secondary examination of the examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the field of general diplomacy are determined, additional persons who pass the secondary examination of the examination may be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest total scores in all subjects among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject within the original number of persons who have passed the secondary examination. <Amended on Apr. 22, 2013; Dec. 28, 2018>

(7) Where it is necessary to fill vacancies due to circumstances in which persons who ultimately pass the examination choose not to be admitted to the course of study under Article 6(1) of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy Act, the head of the examination administering agency may determine additional persons who pass the examination one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest scores in the secondary examination among those who have not failed to meet standards for passing the examination within six months from the date of announcement of persons who ultimately pass the examination. <Added on Apr. 22, 2013; Jan. 31, 2017>

[This Article Added on Nov. 27, 2012]

[Title Amended on Dec. 18, 2018]

Article 23-4(Determination of pass in examination for selection of foreign service officer candidates in field of regional diplomacy and specialty in diplomatic relations) #

(1) In the primary examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the field of regional diplomacy and specialty in diplomatic relations, a person who passes the examination shall be determined in order of scores specified in subparagraph 3 from the highest, in consideration of scores in the examination, the number of applicants for the secondary examination, etc., within 10 times the number of persons to be selected by combination of related regions and languages or the related specialty fields under the latter part of Article 23-3(1), with the exception of the subparagraphs, from among persons who meet all requirements in order of the following. In such cases, the number of persons exempted from the primary examination pursuant to Article 23-2(3) shall not be included within 10 times the number of persons to be selected:

1. To obtain at least the relevant passing score or grade in the English proficiency test specified in Appendix 3, in the foreign language proficiency test specified in Appendix 3-2 (excluding the case the ability to use foreign languages is assessed by the language certification test pursuant to Article 23-2(5)), and in the Korean History Proficiency Test specified in Appendix 4;

2. To score at least 60 percent of the perfect score in the test for the Constitution;

3. To score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject other than English, the History of Korea, and the Constitution, and at least 60 percent of the total scores of all subjects.

(2) In the secondary examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the field of regional diplomacy and specialty in diplomatic relations, a person who passes the examination shall be determined if a person who has passed the primary examination is deemed appropriate for the duties after screening his or her qualification, career, cover letter, duty performance plan, and others.

(3) In the tertiary examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates in the field of regional diplomacy and specialty in diplomatic relations, a person for whom a majority of examiners assess at least two elements of assessment specified in Article 5(3) as "poor", or the same element as "poor" fails the examination. <Amended on Aug. 1, 2023>

(4) The head of the examination administering agency determines persons who finally pass the examination from among those with good assessment results in order of scores excluding those who have failed under paragraph (3); provided, where public announcement is made in advance pursuant to Article 47(1), which allows to score each element of assessment differently from Article 5(3), a person who finally passes the examination is determined by the results of such assessment in order of scores.

(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (4), where an oral examination is administered in two phases pursuant to the proviso of Article 23-2(2)2c, a person who passes the examination shall be determined pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4), but persons who pass the first phase oral examination shall be determined in the scope of the three times the number of persons to be selected, and those who have passed shall be subject to the second phase oral examination and may be determined as persons who finally pass the examination.

(6) When it is necessary to fill a vacancy due to some reasons, including a case a person who has finally passed withdraws admission to a course under Article 6(1) of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy Act, the head of the examination administering agency may determine persons who additionally pass the examination, from among persons whose failures are not attributed to paragraph (3) in order of scores for the tertiary examination from the highest; provided, where an oral examination is conducted in two phases pursuant to the proviso of Article 23-2(2)2c, a person who additionally passes the examination may be determined in order of scores for the second phase oral examination.

[This Article Added on Dec. 18, 2018]

[The amended provisions of Article 23-4 of the Presidential Decree No. 29374 (Dec. 18, 2018) shall be effective until December 31, 2020 pursuant to Article 2 of the Addenda to that Act.]

Article 24(Methods of open competitive examinations for employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower) #

(1) An open competitive examination, etc. for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or Lower), etc. shall be administered by dividing the examination into a primary examination, secondary examination and tertiary examination; provided, where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, he or she may concurrently administer the primary examination and secondary examination. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

(2) Where the primary examination and secondary examination of the open competitive examination, etc. for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower are concurrently administered pursuant to the proviso of paragraph (1), the combined examination shall be conducted using multiple-choice questions, as a rule.

(3) Deleted. <Dec. 4, 2013>

(4) Article 22(2) through (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the examinations under paragraph (1); provided, where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, he or she may administer the secondary examination under the main clause of paragraph (1) using multiple-choice questions and fill-in-the-blank items only. <Amended on Dec. 4, 2013; Dec. 18, 2018>

(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (4), where the primary and secondary examinations are concurrently administered pursuant to the proviso of paragraph (1), Article 22(6) shall not apply mutatis mutandis. <Added on Dec. 18, 2018>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Dec. 4, 2013]

Article 25(Determination of Persons Who Pass Open Competitive Examination for Employment of Public Officials of Grade VI or Lower) #

(1) Successful candidates of the first-stage examination of open competitive examinations for employment of public officials of Grade VI or lower shall be determined, taking into account examination scores, within a range of 5 times the number of persons to be selected (within a range of 10 times the number of persons to be selected for the examination under subparagraph 1), in accordance with the classifications set forth in the following subparagraphs: <Amended on Jun. 2, 2025>

1. The open competitive examination for employment of public officials of Grade VII (including the open competitive examination for employment of foreign service officials equivalent thereto): Among persons who have obtained at least the standard score in the English proficiency test prescribed in Appendix 3 and at least the standard grade in the Korean History Proficiency Test prescribed in Appendix 4, and who have scored at least 40 percent of the full score in each of the remaining subjects excluding the English and Korean history subjects, candidates shall be determined in descending order of the total scores in those remaining subjects;

2. The open competitive examination for employment of public officials of Grade IX: Among persons who have obtained at least the standard grade in the Korean History Proficiency Test prescribed in Appendix 4, and who have scored at least 40 percent of the full score in each of the remaining subjects excluding the Korean history subject, candidates shall be determined in descending order of the total scores in those remaining subjects;

3. Examinations, other than those referred to in subparagraphs 1 and 2: Persons who pass those examinations shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest total scores in those examinations among those who score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject.

(2) Successful candidates of the second-stage examination of open competitive examinations for employment of public officials of Grade VI or lower (including cases where the first-stage examination and the second-stage examination are administered in an integrated manner pursuant to the proviso of Article 24(1)) shall be determined, taking into account examination scores, the number of applicants for the third-stage examination, etc., within a range of 1.5 times the number of persons to be selected (within a range of 2 times the number of persons to be selected where both a practical examination and an interview examination are conducted at the third-stage examination pursuant to Article 24(2)), in accordance with the classifications set forth in the following subparagraphs: <Amended on Nov. 30, 2021; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. Open competitive examinations for the employment of public officials in Grade VII and open competitive examinations for the employment of foreign service officers in the series of class of foreign service information technology equivalent thereto:

a. Where the primary examination and secondary examination are concurrently administered: Persons who pass the examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest total scores in the subjects excluding English and the History of Korea, among those who score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject excluding English and the History of Korea, who obtain the score not lower than the relevant passing score and grade in the English proficiency test specified in Appendix 3 and in the Korean History Proficiency Test specified in Appendix 4, respectively;

b. Where the primary examination and secondary examination are not concurrently administered: Persons who pass the examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest total scores in the examination, among those who score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject;

2. Open competitive examinations for the employment of foreign service officers in the series of class of consular affairs equivalent to open competitive examinations for the employment of public officials in Grade VII:

a. Where the primary examination and secondary examination are concurrently administered: Persons who pass the examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest total scores in the subjects excluding English, the History of Korea, and a foreign language as an optional subject, among those who score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject excluding English, the History of Korea, and a foreign language as an optional subject, who obtain the score not lower than the relevant passing score and grade in the English proficiency test specified in Appendix 3, in a foreign language proficiency test specified in Appendix 3-2, and in the Korean History Proficiency Test specified in Appendix 4, respectively;

b. Where the primary examination and secondary examination are not concurrently administered: Persons who pass the examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest total scores in the subjects excluding a foreign language as an optional subject, among those who score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject excluding a foreign language as an optional subject, who obtain a score not lower than the relevant passing score and grade in a foreign language proficiency test specified in Appendix 3-2;

3. The open competitive examination for employment of public officials of Grade IX:

a. Where the first-stage examination and the second-stage examination are administered in an integrated manner: Among persons who have obtained at least the standard grade in the Korean History Proficiency Test prescribed in Appendix 4, and who have scored at least 40 percent of the full score in each of the remaining subjects excluding the Korean history subject, candidates shall be determined in descending order of the total scores in those remaining subjects;

b. Where the primary examination and secondary examination are not concurrently administered: Persons who pass the examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest total scores in the examination, among those who score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject;

4. Examinations other than those under subparagraphs 1 through 3: Among persons who have scored at least 40 percent of the full score in each subject, candidates shall be determined in descending order of the total scores.

(3) The results of evaluation of the oral examination of the tertiary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower shall be divided into the following grades: <Amended on Dec. 4, 2013; Aug. 1, 2023>

1. Where a majority of examiners assess all the elements of assessment under Article 5(3) as "excellent": "Excellent";

2. Where a majority of examiners assess at least two elements of assessment under Article 5(3) as "poor", or a majority of examiners assess the same element of assessment as "poor": "Poor";

3. In cases other than subparagraphs 1 and 2: "Fair".

(4) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary to secure objectivity and fairness of the oral examination in accordance with standards prescribed by the Minister of Personnel Management in consideration of the grades under paragraph (3), the number of applicants, the number of persons to be selected, the method of the oral examination, etc., he or she may administer an additional oral examination for applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" or "poor." In such cases, notwithstanding paragraph (3), an applicant who has received the grade same as the grade of the first oral examination shall be deemed to have received the grade of the final oral examination, and an applicant who has received the grade different from the grade of the first oral examination shall be deemed to have received the grade of "fair". <Added on Dec. 4, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

(5) Final successful candidates of open competitive examinations for employment of public officials of Grade VI or lower shall be determined, in accordance with the methods set forth in the following subparagraphs, based on the grades of the interview examinations under paragraphs (3) and (4) and the scores of the second-stage examination; provided, where final successful candidates of the open competitive examination for employment of public officials of Grade IX in which the first-stage examination and the second-stage examination have been administered in an integrated manner pursuant to the proviso of Article 24(1) are determined, successful candidates shall, in applying the proviso of subparagraph 1 and subparagraph 2, be determined in descending order of the total scores in the remaining subjects excluding the Korean history subject until the number of persons to be selected is reached, and where the total scores in those remaining subjects are the same, successful candidates shall be determined in descending order of the scores in the second-stage examination. <Amended on Dec. 4, 2013; Dec. 10, 2024; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. Applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" shall be deemed to have passed the examination; provided, where the number of applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" exceeds the number of persons to be selected, such applicants shall be deemed to have passed the examination one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest scores in the secondary examination until the number of such persons reaches the number of persons to be selected;

2. Applicants who have received the grade of "fair" shall be deemed to have passed the examination one by one beginning with persons who obtain high scores in the second-stage examination until the number of such persons including the number of applicants who have received the grade of "excellent" reaches the number of persons to be selected;

3. Applicants who have received the grade of "poor" shall be deemed to have failed to pass the examination.

(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), where the number of applicants for the tertiary examination is expected to be less than the number of persons to be selected due to circumstances in which persons who pass the secondary examination choose not to take the tertiary examination when persons who pass the secondary examination of an open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower, etc. are determined, additional persons who pass the secondary examination of the examination may be determined within the original number of persons who have passed the secondary examination, in accordance with the classifications provided in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2). <Amended on Nov. 30, 2021>

(7) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), where the number of applicants for the tertiary examination of the open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower is less than the number of persons to be selected, a special tertiary examination may be administered after determining persons who additionally pass the secondary examination within 1.5 times the number of persons less than the number of persons to be selected (where the number of persons less than the number of persons to be selected is not more than three, referring to the number of persons less than the number of persons to be selected, plus two persons) in accordance with the classifications provided in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2): <Amended on May 6, 2015; Nov. 30, 2021>

1. Deleted; <Nov. 30, 2021>

2. Deleted. <Nov. 30, 2021>

(8) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (7), if the number of persons who passed the secondary examination exceeds 1.5 times the number of persons to be selected or the number of persons that falls short of such number because all persons with tied scores were chosen as successful candidates, their number may exceed such limit. <Added on Dec. 4, 2013; Dec. 10, 2024>

(9) Where it is necessary to fill vacancies due to circumstances such as a final successful candidate giving up appointment, the head of an examination-administering institution may, within 6 months from the date of announcement of successful candidates, determine additional successful candidates from among persons who do not fall under the grounds for failure, in accordance with the classifications set forth in each subparagraph of paragraph (2); in such cases, with respect to the open competitive examination for employment of public officials of Grade IX in which the first-stage examination and the second-stage examination have been administered in an integrated manner, additional successful candidates shall be determined in descending order of the total scores in the remaining subjects excluding the Korean history subject from among persons who have scored at least 40 percent of the full score in each of those remaining subjects, and where the total scores in those remaining subjects are the same, additional successful candidates may be determined in descending order of the scores in the second-stage examination. <Amended on May 6, 2015; Jan. 31, 2017; Nov. 30, 2021; Dec. 5, 2023; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. Deleted; <Nov. 30, 2021>

2. Deleted. <Nov. 30, 2021>

(10) Where it is necessary to fill vacancies even after the head of the examination administering agency has determined additional successful candidates pursuant to paragraph (9), he or she may further determine successful candidates through a separate tertiary examination after determining those who pass the secondary examination in accordance with the classification under the subparagraphs of paragraph (2), and the number of persons determined in this manner shall not exceed 1.5 times (if the number of persons who falls short of the number of persons to be selected does not exceed three, the number shall be limited to the number of such persons plus two) the number of persons who fall short of the number of persons to be selected. In such cases, applicants who have received a grade of "poor" in an oral part of the earlier tertiary examination shall be deemed additional determined successful candidates in the secondary examination under the former part of this paragraph. <Added on Dec. 5, 2023>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Dec. 4, 2013]

Article 26(Procedures for requesting competitive examination for employment of experienced public officials) #

(1) Where the appointing authority or the appointment recommendation authority intends to employ public officials through a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials, he or she shall request the head of the examination administering agency to conduct the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials along with information about grades to which public officials are appointed, reasons why employment through the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials (hereinafter referred to as "competitive employment, etc. of experienced public officials") is required, and other necessary matters. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

(2) Where the head of the examination administering agency receives a request under paragraph (1), in which case he or she deems it appropriate to appoint public officials through the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials, he or she shall administer the relevant examination. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and Article 3(1), the Minister of Personnel Management may directly administer competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials under Article 28(2)11 of the Act and other competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials he or she deems necessary. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Nov. 1, 2011]

Article 27(Eligibility to take competitive examinations for employment of experienced public officials) #

(1) Persons eligible to take competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials under Article 16(1)2 of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials shall be those who hold a certificate of qualification for the duties to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed among certificates of qualification for each grade to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed prescribed in Appendices 7 and 8; provided, where the competent Minister deems it necessary, he or she may allow persons who hold any of the following certificates of qualification to take the examination: <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Nov. 1, 2011>

1. A certificate of qualification not prescribed as a certificate of qualification for each grade to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed prescribed in Appendices 7 and 8, which is a national certificate of qualification under the National Technical Qualifications Act or other statutes or regulations;

2. A certificate of qualification the competent Minister deems equal to a certificate of qualification for each grade to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed prescribed in Appendices 7 and 8, which is a private certificate of qualification under Article 19 of the Framework Act on Qualifications;

3. A certificate of qualification the competent Minister deems equal to a certificate of qualification for each grade to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed prescribed in Appendices 7 and 8, which is a certificate of qualification recognized as a national certificate of qualification pursuant to statutes or regulations among certificates of qualification obtained in a foreign country.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), where the competent Minister deems that it is impracticable to apply the standards under paragraph (1) due to the special characteristics of duties to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed or other extraordinary circumstances, he or she may determine certificates of qualification differently for each grade to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed as prescribed in Appendices 7 and 8 or may shorten the basic period of experience required, and may allow persons who hold any of the following certificates of qualification related to the duties to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed to take the examination in consultation with the Minister of Personnel Management: <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Aug. 1, 2023>

1. A private certificate of qualification not authorized by the State pursuant to Article 19 of the Framework Act on Qualifications;

2. A certificate of qualification not recognized as a national certificate of qualification among certificates of qualification obtained in a foreign country.

(3) Eligibility to take a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials under Article 16(1)3 of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials shall be limited to cases where applicants have work experience equivalent to the grade to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed according to the classifications specified in Appendix 9 for at least three years in the field identical or similar to the details of affairs of the series of classes to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed; provided, the grade to which public officials in extraordinary civil service who receive remuneration equivalent to that of the grade corresponding to public officials in general service are scheduled to be appointed shall follow the remuneration standards, and the competent Minister shall determine the grade to which experienced public officials in the field of duties not prescribed in Appendix 9 are scheduled to be appointed in consideration of the details of the relevant duties, difficulty, the level of responsibility, etc. <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Nov. 1, 2011>

(4) The period of work experience required for eligibility to take competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials shall be calculated based on the scheduled date of the final examination (in case of an examination for the employment of public officials not intended for a large number of people, where the head of the examination requesting agency is different from the head of the examination administering agency, referring to the date the examination is requested). In such cases, where the period of work experience required is calculated, the period during which applicants have worked on a non-regular basis in the field of duties related to the grade to which public officials are scheduled to be appointed may be fully or partially included in the period of work experience, as prescribed by the Minister of Personnel Management. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Nov. 1, 2011]

Article 28(Restrictions on eligibility to take examinations for employment of public officials not intended for large number of people) #

Eligibility to take examinations for the employment of public officials not intended for a large number of people to the same grade based on the same requirements shall be limited to three times; and where an applicant fails to pass the examination because he or she obtains a score less than 40 percent of the perfect score in at least one subject on the primary examination or the secondary examination (in case of public officials at least in Grade V and foreign service officers at least in Grade V, applicable to the primary examination only) of the examination for the employment of public officials not intended for a large number of people, he or she shall not take the examination for the employment of public officials not intended for a large number of people to the same grade based on the same requirements again within six months from the date he or she takes the primary examination. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Nov. 1, 2011]

Article 29(Methods of competitive examinations for employment of experienced public officials) #

(1) Except in any of the following cases, competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials shall be administered by means of a written examination, and at least one examination from among oral examination, practical examination, or document screening shall be administered additionally; provided, where a public official in general service who retired to become a public official in non-career service or in career service of another type falling under Article 28(2)1 of the Act is reappointed to a position of a public official in general service in the grade in which he or she holds office at the time of his or her retirement: <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Jun. 29, 2012; Mar. 23, 2013 Mar. 23, 2013; Apr. 22, 2013; Dec. 4, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; May 6, 2015; May 8, 2018; Dec. 5, 2023>

1. For those falling under Article 28(2)1,2,4, and 10 of the Act (in cases falling under Article 28(2)4 of the Act, only applicable to those who graduated from or completed the course of study at an educational institution designated by the Minister of Personnel Management, which aims at the training of public officials), document screening shall be administered and at least one examination from among an oral examination and practical examination shall be additionally administered;

1-2. Where those falling under Article 28(2)2,3,8, or 10 of the Act are employed as public officials who temporarily work during the term of office on a contractual basis or public officials who have an alternative work schedule, and work during the term of office on a contractual basis, document screening and an oral examination shall be administered, as determined by the Minister of Personnel Management;

2. Where public officials who retired among those falling under Article 28(2)3 of the Act are reappointed to the grade in which they held office before their retirement within three years, and where those who have passed a bar examination are appointed to positions of public officials in the occupational group of administration, document screening and an oral examination shall be administered;

3. Document screening shall be administered for those who fall under Article 28(2)5 of the Act;

4. For persons falling under Article 28(2)7 of the Act, at least one examination shall be administered, chosen from among written examination, oral examinations, practical examinations, or document screening;

5. Where eligibility to take an examination is limited to those who meet requirements under Article 28(2)2,3 and 10 of the Act among persons falling under Article 28(2)13 of the Act, the document screening shall be administered and at least one examination from among an oral examination and practical examination shall be additionally administered.

(2) Notwithstanding the main clause of paragraph (1), with the exception of its subparagraphs, in cases falling under any of the following, a written examination may be exempted; provided, where a written examination is exempted on the grounds falling under subparagraph 1, a document screening and oral examination shall be administered: <Added on May 8, 2018; Dec. 5, 2023>

1. Where a person falling under Article 28(2)3 of the Act is appointed through a competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials;

2. Where a person appointed to an open position is employed through competitive employment, etc. of experienced public officials;

3. Where competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials are administered in accordance with personnel rotation plans (except for a personnel rotation plan under paragraph (10)) implemented by the Minister of Personnel Management.

(3) Notwithstanding the main clause of paragraph (1), with the exception of its subparagraphs, where competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials for a special field determined by the Minister of Personnel Management under Article 28(2)6 of the Act are administered, a methods falling under any of the following shall apply: <Added on May 8, 2018>

1. A written examination shall be conducted and at least one examination from among oral examination, practical examination, and document screening shall be additionally administered;

2. An oral examination shall be administered and at least one examination from among practical examination and document screening shall be additionally administered.

(4) In cases falling under subparagraph 1,3,4,5,7, and 11 of that paragraph (in cases falling under Article 28(2)7 of the Act, only applicable to cases following a personnel exchange plan conducted by the Minister of Personnel Management pursuant to Article 32-2 of the Act or where prior consultation with the Minister of Personnel Management has been held pursuant to Article 32-2 of the Act), the head of the agency conducting an examination may employ persons pursuant to the proviso, with the exception of the subparagraphs, of Article 28(2) of the Act, may employ persons through an examination for the employment of public officials not intended for a large number of people. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; May 8, 2018; Dec. 5, 2023>

(5) In cases falling under any subparagraph of paragraph (1), in which case the head of the agency conducting examinations administers a competitive examination for the employment of experienced pubic officials, notwithstanding the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), he or she may additionally administer a written examination. <Added on Nov. 1, 2011; May 8, 2018>

(6) In the case of a competitive examination for the employment of experienced pubic officials, where the number of persons who apply for document screening is three times the number of persons to be selected, notwithstanding Article 5(5), the head of the examination administering agency may determine persons who pass document screening in accordance with standards appropriate for the duties to which such persons are scheduled to be appointed he or she has prescribed. In such cases, the number of persons who pass document screening shall be at least three times the number of persons to be selected. <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Apr. 4, 2011; Nov. 1, 2011; Oct. 8, 2014; May 8, 2018>

(7) With regard to the methods of examinations under paragraph (1), Article 22 shall apply mutatis mutandis to examinations for the employment of public officials at least in Grade V and foreign service officers at least in Grade V; and Article 24 shall apply mutatis mutandis to examinations for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower and foreign service officers in Grade IV or lower; provided, the primary examination and secondary for the employment of public officials at least in Grade V and foreign service officers at least in Grade V may be concurrently administered through competitive examinations for the employment of experienced public officials may be administered using multiple-choice questions. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Dec. 4, 2013; May 8, 2018>

(8) In a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials among public officials in general service and foreign service officers or competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced foreign service officers, they shall be exempted from the examination of overlapping subjects tested among the subjects tested in the examination under Article 7(1) and (2); provided, this shall not apply to the subjects in which the method of examination is different, or which are elective. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Dec. 4, 2013; Oct. 8, 2014; May 8, 2018>

(9) Where persons assigned to positions are employed through the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials of changed kinds or kinds of public officials added as plural positions because kinds of public officials appointed to specific positions are changed, or changed to plural positions due to changes to the table of organization and the fixed number of persons, in which case duties which they are in charge of remain unchanged and the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, he or she may exempt them from the primary examination. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; May 8, 2018>

(10) Where the Minister of Personnel Management conducts competitive recruitment, etc. for career service positions of local public officials as State public officials pursuant to Article 28(2)7 of the Act in accordance with a personnel rotation plan between State public officials and local public officials conducted by the Minister of Personnel Management, they shall be exempt from the examination. <Amended on Dec. 5, 2023>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Nov. 1, 2011]

Article 30(Determination of success in competitive examinations for employment of experienced public officials) #

(1) Success in a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials shall be determined as follows: <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Apr. 4, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Apr. 22, 2013; Oct. 8, 2014; Nov. 19, 2014; May 6, 2015; May 8, 2018>

1. In case of the competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials, persons who pass the primary examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest scores in consideration of scores in the examination within five times the number of persons to be selected among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and scores at least 60 percent of the total scores in all subjects; and persons who pass the secondary examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain high scores in consideration of scores in the examination, the number of applicants for the tertiary examination, etc. within 150 percent of the number of persons to be selected among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and scores at least 60 percent of the total scores in all subjects; provided, where the primary examination and secondary examination are concurrently administered pursuant to Article 29(7), persons who pass the concurrent primary examination and secondary examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest scores in consideration of scores in the examination, the number of applicants for the tertiary examination, etc. within 150 percent of the number of persons to be selected among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and scores at least 60 percent of the total scores in all subjects;

2. Notwithstanding subparagraph 1, Article 23(6) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the secondary examination (where the primary examination and secondary examination are concurrently administered, referring to the examination concurrently administered) of the competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials;

3. In case of an examination for the employment of public officials not intended for a large number of people, persons who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and scores at least 60 percent of the total scores in all subjects at the primary examination and the secondary examination respectively shall be persons who pass the primary examination and the secondary examination, respectively; provided, where the primary examination and secondary examination is concurrently administered pursuant to Article 29(7), persons who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and scores at least 60 percent of the total scores in all subjects shall be persons who pass the examination;

4. Notwithstanding subparagraphs 1 and 3, in case of a written examination of a competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V and competitive examination for the employment of foreign service officers in Grade V under Article 3(1)4 and competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VII under Article 3(1)5, persons who pass the written examination thereof shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest scores within 10 times the number of persons to be selected among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject; provided, where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary to expand opportunities for the appointment of persons who have an extensive career background, he or she may additionally determine persons who pass the examination in comprehensive consideration of requirements, etc. for application for the examination other than the score in the examination, as prescribed by the Minister of Personnel Management.

(2) In case of an oral examination of the tertiary examination of the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials, where a majority of examiners assess at least two elements of assessment specified in Article 5(3) as "poor", or a majority of examiners assess the same element of assessment as "poor", persons who obtain the grade of "poor" shall fail to pass the oral examination; provided, in case of an oral examination of the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials, the head of the examination administering agency may determine persons who pass the oral examination one by one beginning with persons whose assessment grade is excellent among those who meet the criteria for passing the oral examination, or determine persons who pass the oral examination one by one beginning with persons whose assessment grade is excellent by scoring each element of assessment differently from the method of assessment prescribed in Article 5(3) after making a public announcement under Article 47(2). <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Apr. 22, 2013; Aug. 1, 2023>

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary when he or she determines persons who pass the oral examination of the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials and the final suitability review, he or she may determine persons who pass the examination by applying Article 23(3) and (5) mutatis mutandis. In such cases, an "open competitive examination for the employment of public officials in Grade V" shall be deemed a "competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials". <Added on Apr. 22, 2013; Oct. 8, 2014>

(4) In case of a competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials, where it is necessary to fill vacancies due to circumstances in which persons who ultimately pass the examination choose not to be appointed to positions of public officials or retire after appointment or any other similar circumstance, the head of an examination administering agency may additionally determine persons who pass the examination within six months from the date of announcement of persons who pass the examination. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Apr. 22, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Jan. 31, 2017; Sep. 22, 2020>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Nov. 1, 2011]

Article 31(Preferential treatment for persons holding certificate of qualification) #

(1) Deleted. <May 6, 2015>

(2) Where a person who holds a certificate of qualification prescribed in Appendix 12 among certificates of qualification under the National Technical Qualifications Act or other statutes or regulations takes an examination for the employment of public officials in Grade VI or lower (in case of a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials; only applicable to cases where a written examination is administered, but excluding the series of classes prescribed in Appendix 5 and competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials under Article 28(2)2 of the Act), a score based on a percentage specified in Appendix 11 shall be added to the score in each subject in the written examination not exceeding the highest score within five percent of the perfect score in the subject of the examination. Where he or she holds at least two certificates of qualification eligible for recognition of an additional score, only one certificate of qualification advantageous to him or her shall be used to add an additional score. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Dec. 4, 2013>

(3) Deleted. <May 6, 2015>

(4) The addition of a score under paragraph (2) shall only apply to persons who obtain the score at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject, and any subject replaced with an examination under each subparagraph of Article 7(1) pursuant to aforesaid paragraph shall be excluded from subjects eligible for the additional score. <Amended on May 6, 2015; Jan. 31, 2017>

(5) Deleted. <Jun. 2, 2025>

(6) Where an applicant obtains a score at least equal to a certain passing score (grade) in the Korean History Proficiency Test (referring to the test conducted under the supervision of the National Institute of Korean History) in examinations that may be converted to scores, such as the written examination or document screening of competitive examinations, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials, the head of the examination administering agency may add a score within five percent of the perfect score in the examination or the perfect score in a subject tested in the examination. In such cases, where a written examination is administered for each subject, scores may be added to each subject. <Added on May 6, 2015>

(7) The head of the examination administering agency shall determine the passing score (grade), percentage of addition, etc. under paragraph (6). <Added on May 6, 2015>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

[Title Amended on Nov. 18, 2015; Dec. 18, 2018]

Article 31-2(Preferential treatment for persons who died or were injured for public good) #

(1) Where a person falling under any of the following subparagraphs takes an examination for the employment of public officials of Grade VI or lower, additional points shall be added, in accordance with the classifications set forth in the following subparagraphs, to the applicant's scores in each subject pursuant to Article 36-2(1)2 or 3 of the Act (excluding subjects replaced with examinations under subparagraphs 1 through 3 of that paragraph pursuant to Article 7(1)); provided, this shall not apply where the applicant has obtained less than 40 percent of the full score in any subject or where the examination cannot be converted into scores: <Amended on Jan. 31, 2017; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. Persons in whose case five percent of the perfect score in each subject is added:

a. Persons who fall under Article 36-2(1)2 of the Act;

b. Persons who were injured for public good eligible for the protection of employment pursuant to Article 13 of the Act on Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons Who Died or Were Injured for Public Good among those who fall under Article 36-2(1)3 of the Act;

2. Persons in whose case three percent of the perfect score in each subject is added: A spouse or child of a person falling under subparagraph 1b.

(2) Where a person eligible for the addition of a score under paragraph (1) becomes a person eligible for support for employment pursuant to any of the following, only one additional score selected by a test taker shall be awarded: <Amended on May 8, 2018; Apr. 6, 2021; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. Article 29 of the Act on the Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons of Distinguished Service to the State;

2. Article 16(2) of the Act on the Honorable Treatment of Persons of Distinguished Service to Independence;

3. Article 33 of the Act on Support for Persons Eligible for Veteran’s Compensation;

4. Article 7-9 of the Act on Assistance to Patients Suffering from Actual or Potential Aftereffects of Defoliants and Establishment of Related Organizations;

5. Article 20 of the Act on the Honorable Treatment of Persons of Distinguished Service to the May 18 Democratization Movement and Establishment of Related Organizations;

6. Article 19 of the Act on Honorable Treatment of Persons of Distinguished Service during Special Military Missions and Establishment of Related Organizations.

7. Article 8(2) of the Special Act on Remedy for Damage Caused by the Sinking of the ROKS Cheonan and Assistance Therefor.

(3) Persons who pass an examination for employment by receiving an additional score pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not exceed 10 percent (where the number of persons to be selected is calculated based on the additional score, the said number shall be rounded down) of the number of persons to be selected in the examination for employment; provided, this shall not apply where the number of applicants is equal to or less than the number of persons to be selected.

(4) Where a score is added pursuant to paragraph (1), the head of the examination administering agency shall determine the method of determining persons who pass the examination and other matters necessary to administer the examination.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Nov. 18, 2015]

[Title Amended on Dec. 18, 2018]

Article 32(Calculation of scores obtained on examination for employment) #

(1) Scores under Articles 23,23-3,23-4,25, and 30 shall be calculated down to two decimal places. <Amended on Jun. 29, 2012; Nov. 27, 2012; Dec. 18, 2018; Nov. 5, 2019>

(2) Where there are persons who obtain the same score in excess of the number of persons to be selected in the process of determining success in an open competitive examination for the employment of public officials, competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials, and examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates, such persons who obtain the same score shall be deemed persons who pass the relevant examination. In such cases, the same score obtained by multiple persons shall be calculated down to two decimal places. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Nov. 27, 2012>

(3) Where there are persons in the same grade in excess of the number of persons to be selected in the process of determining success in an oral examination under the proviso of Article 30(2), the oral examination intended for persons in the same grade shall be administered again until the number of persons reaches the number of persons to be selected to determine persons who pass the oral examination.

(4) Deleted. <Nov. 5, 2019>

(5) Deleted. <Nov. 5, 2019>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 33(Methods of calculation of period of application for examination by persons scheduled to be discharged from military service) #

The period of six months preceding the scheduled date of discharge from service under Article 16(2) of the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act shall be counted from the scheduled date of the final examination of the examination for employment which persons scheduled to be discharged from service intend to take.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 34(Documents to be submitted by applicants) #

(1) A person who intends to apply for an examination for employment and examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates shall submit a copy of an application form (including submission through the information and communications network) prescribed by the head of the examination administering agency. <Amended on Nov. 27, 2012>

(2) Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, he or she shall verify the following documents through administrative data matching (hereinafter referred to as "administrative data matching") under Article 36(1) of the Electronic Government Act with regard to persons who pass the secondary examination; provided, where any person who passes the secondary examination does not consent to the confirmation thereof or the head of the examination administering agency cannot verify the documents through administrative data matching, the person who passes the secondary examination shall submit such documents within the period determined by the head of the examination administering agency: <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Dec. 4, 2013; May 6, 2015; Jan. 31, 2017>

1. A physical examination report (only applicable to cases where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary while conducting the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials) under the Regulations on Physical Examination for Employment of Public Officials;

2. An abridged transcript of a resident registration card including the details of military service (only applicable to cases where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary);

3. Documents related to scholastic records (only applicable to cases where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary);

4. A copy of a certificate of qualification (only applicable to a certificate of qualification meeting the requirements for application for the examination under Article 18);

5. A certificate of a recipient under the National Basic Living Security Act;

6. A certificate of a disabled person under the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities;

7. A certificate of a single-parent family under the Single-Parent Family Support Act.

(3) Where an applicant files an application for privilege of addition to the scores in the examination, the head of the examination administering agency shall verify the following documents through administrative data matching; provided, where the applicant who files an application for privilege of addition to the scores in the examination does not consent to the confirmation thereof or the head of the examination administering agency cannot verify the documents through administrative data matching, the applicant shall submit documents within the period determined by the head of the examination administering agency: <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Feb. 12, 2010; May 6, 2015; Jan. 31, 2017; Apr. 11, 2023>

1. A certificate of a person eligible for support for employment, issued by the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs;

2. A copy of a certificate of technical qualification (only applicable to the certificate of technical qualification obtained before the written examination is conducted) under the National Technical Qualifications Act;

3. A certificate of a person who died or was injured for public good under the Act on Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons Who Died or Were Injured for Public Good.

(4) An applicant who intends to replace subjects tested in the examination pursuant to Article 7(1) shall submit document(s) specifying the kind of and scores (grades) in the examination he or she intends to replace (including submission through the information and communications network) in accordance with the method determined by the head of an examination administering agency. <Amended on May 6, 2016>

(5) Deleted. <Apr. 23, 2024>

(6) The head of an examination administering agency may communicate the kind of and scores (grades), etc. in the examination submitted under paragraph (4) to any of the following agencies or institutions, at the request of the relevant applicant: <Added on Sep. 22, 2020; Aug. 1, 2023>

1. Other agencies that administer examinations for public officials;

2. Public institutions under the Act on the Management of Public Institutions;

3. Local government-invested public corporations or local public agencies under the Local Public Enterprises Act;

4. Other agencies deemed necessary by the Minister of Personnel Management.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 35(Application fees) #

(1) Applicants for the examinations for the employment of public officials and examinations for the selection of foreign service officer candidates shall pay an application fee based on the following classifications by the use of a revenue stamp; provided, where any applicant submits an application form through the Internet, he or she shall pay an application fee by means of electronic money, electronic payment, etc. using an information and communication network: <Amended on Nov. 27, 2012; Dec. 4, 2013>

1. Examination for the employment of public officials at least in Grade V: 10,000 won;

1-2. Examination for the selection of foreign service officer candidates: 10,000 won;

2. Examination for the employment of public officials in Grades VI and VII: 7,000 won;

3. Examination for the employment of public officials in Grades VIII and IX: 5,000 won.

(2) In any of the following cases, an application fee under paragraph (1) shall be returned: <Amended on Jun. 29, 2012; Oct. 8, 2014; Nov. 15, 2022>

1. Where the application fee is erroneously paid or overpaid: the amount of the application fee erroneously paid or overpaid;

2. Where the applicant fails to take the examination for reasons attributable to the examination administering agency: the full amount of the application fee paid;

3. Where the applicant withdraws his or her intention of taking the examination during the period of receiving application forms or within three days from the day after the deadline: the full amount of the application fee paid;

4. If an applicant withdraws his or her intention of taking an examination before the date of examination (excluding cases falling under subparagraph 3) and where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, the amount determined by the head; in such cases, the head of the examination administering agency shall publicly announce the amount when he or she publicly announces the relevant examination pursuant to Article 47.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the head of an examination administering agency may exempt any of the following persons from paying an application fee, as determined by the Minister of Personnel Management: <Added on Apr. 4, 2011; Jun. 29, 2012; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Sep. 22, 2020; Nov. 30, 2021; Aug. 1, 2023; Dec. 5, 2023>

1. Recipients or the second-lowest income bracket under the National Basic Living Security Act;

2. Persons eligible for support under the Single-Parent Family Support Act;

3. Recipients under the Disability Pension Act.

4. Persons who have at least two minor children.

(4) Where the head of the examination administering agency intends to exempt an applicant from an application fee pursuant to paragraph (3), he or she shall verify whether the applicant is eligible for exemption through administrative data matching; provided, where the applicant does not consent to the verification thereof or the head of the examination administering agency cannot verify documents through administrative data matching, the applicant shall submit the relevant documents within the period determined by the head of the examination administering agency. <Added on Jan. 31, 2017>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 36(Transfer of public officials belonging to National Assembly) #

Where the head of the agency conducting an examination wishes public officials belonging to the National Assembly, a court, the Constitutional Court, or the National Election Commission to be transferred to the agency, he or she shall follow the method of a competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials under Article 28(2)3 of the Act; provided, where requirements for qualification for appointment to the relevant grade, the minimum number of years required for promotion, and subjects tested in the open competitive examination for employment are same as those of the competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials, applicants shall be exempted from the written examination in such subjects. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 37(Methods of examinations for changing jobs) #

(1) An examination for changing jobs of public officials at least in Grade V and foreign service officers at least in Grade V shall be administered by dividing it into the primary examination and secondary examination using multiple-choice questions (fill-in-the-blank items may be included); and where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, he or she may administer an oral examination or practical examination. In such cases, where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, he or she may exempt public officials from the primary examination.

(2) The primary examination and secondary examination for changing jobs of public officials in Grade VI or lower and foreign service officers in Grade IV or lower shall be concurrently administered using multiple-choice questions; and where the head of the examination administering agency deems it necessary, he or she may administer a practical examination.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the secondary examination for public officials at least in Grade V in the series of classes of correction, protection, prosecution, narcotics investigation, immigration control, railroad police, administration, tax matters, customs, social welfare, statistics, audit and inspection, and librarianship, and foreign service officers at least in Grade V in the series of classes of foreign affairs and trade and consular affairs specified in Appendices 1 and 2 shall be administered using essay items, and short-answer questions may be included therein. <Amended on Feb. 20, 2013; Dec. 16, 2013>

(4) Deleted. <Dec. 4, 2013>

(5) An examination for changing jobs where a person who passes the bar examination is appointed to a position of a public official in the occupation group of administration shall be administered by means of an oral examination and document screening.

(6) Where subjects tested in the examination overlap each other among the subjects tested in the examination under Article 7(1) and (2) in the examination for changing jobs among public officials in general service and among foreign service officers, public officials, and foreign service officers shall be exempted from such subjects in the examination; provided, this shall not apply to subjects whose method of examination is different or which are elective. <Amended on Dec. 4, 2013>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 38(Determination of success in examination for changing jobs) #

(1) Persons who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and at least 60 percent of the total score in all subjects in the primary examination and the secondary examination respectively shall be determined to be persons who pass the primary examination and the secondary examination; provided, where the primary examination and secondary examination is concurrently administered pursuant to Article 37(2), persons who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and at least 60 percent of the total score in all subjects shall be determined to be persons who pass the combination of primary examination and secondary examination.

(2) The main clause of Article 30(2) or paragraph (3) of that Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where an oral examination is administered pursuant to Article 37(1) and (5). In such cases, a "competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials" shall be deemed an "examination for changing jobs." <Amended on Apr. 22, 2013>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 39(Methods of open competitive examinations for promotion to Grade V) #

(1) An open competitive examination for promotion to Grade V shall be administered by dividing it into the primary examination, the secondary examination, and the tertiary examination.

(2) Article 22(2) through (5) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the examination under paragraph (1).

(3) A person who passes the primary examination of the open competitive examination for promotion to Grade V shall be exempted from the primary examination of the next open competitive examination for promotion to Grade V only; provided, this shall be limited to cases where he or she is eligible to take the relevant examination from the primary examination of which he or she intends to be exempted.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 40(Determination of success in open competitive examinations for promotion to Grade V) #

(1) Persons who pass the primary examination of the open competitive examination for promotion to Grade V shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain high scores in consideration of scores in the examination within five times the number of persons to be selected among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and at least 60 percent of the total score in all subjects; and persons who pass the secondary examination thereof shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the high total scores in all subjects in consideration of the number of persons to be selected, scores in the examination, conditions of filling vacancies, etc. among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject.

(2) The main clause of Article 30(2) or paragraph (3) of that Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the determination of persons who pass the tertiary examination and final suitability review of the open competitive examination for promotion to Grade V. In such cases, a "competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials" shall be deemed an "open competitive examination for promotion to Grade V." <Amended on Apr. 22, 2013>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 41(Public officials eligible for open competitive examination for promotion to Grade V) #

Where the Minister of Personnel Management deems it necessary to promote a balance of opportunities for promotion among agencies or to select capable public officials, he or she shall administer an open competitive examination for promotion to Grade V intended for public officials in Grade VI in whose case their appointment and promotion are restricted or their eligibility to take the examination is not being suspended, whose minimum number of years required for promotion under Article 31 of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials has elapsed. In such cases, whether or not they are eligible to take the examination shall be determined as at the scheduled date of the final examination. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 42(Request for examination for general promotion to Grade V) #

(1) Where the appointment recommendation authority requests the head of the agency conducting an examination to conduct the examination for general promotion to Grade V, he or she shall request the head of the examination administering agency to conduct the relevant examination for the number of persons equivalent to at least twice but no more than five times the total number of vacancies summing up the number of vacancies and expected vacancies one by one beginning with persons whose grade is the highest, excluding those whose appointment and promotion are restricted or eligibility take the examination is not being suspended in the list of candidates for promotion to Grade V as at the date the agency is requested to administer the examination within the period fixed by the Minister of Personnel Management. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

(2) The competent Minister shall determine the total number of vacancies under paragraph (1) in accordance with the human resource management plan for each agency formulated pursuant to Article 8 of the Decree for the Appointment of Public Officials, and maintain the appropriate balance between the number of persons to be employed through the open competitive examination and the number of persons to be employed through the competitive examination of experienced public officials for public officials in general service at least in Grade V of the relevant agency. <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Nov. 1, 2011>

(3) A person who has authority to make recommendations for and request the appointment of public officials may make requests for an examination for general promotion to Grade V under Article 40-4(1) of the Act and Article 35-2(1)1 through 3 of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials up to four times for each public official eligible for promotion to Grade V. In such cases, notwithstanding the rule regarding taking the examination at least twice but no more than five times under paragraph (1), he or she may request the head of the relevant examination administering agency to conduct the examination; and where he or she requests the head of the relevant examination administering agency to conduct the examination for general promotion for reasons under Article 35-2(1)1 and 2 of the Decree on the Appointment of Public Officials, he or she may request the head of the relevant examination administering agency to administer the examination for only persons eligible to take the examination for general promotion.

(4) Where the head of the relevant examination administering agency administers the examination for general promotion to fill the total number of vacancies, he or she shall conduct the relevant examination once a year for each agency or each series of classes; provided, where the number of persons who pass the examination is less than the total number of vacancies or other special reasons are recognized, he or she may administer an additional examination.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 43(Methods of examinations for general promotion to Grade V) #

(1) An examination for general promotion to Grade V shall be conducted by dividing it into the primary examination and the secondary examination, using multiple-choice questions (fill-in-the-blank items may be included) or essay items (subjective short-answer items may be included; hereafter the same shall apply in paragraph (2)); provided, where the Minister of Personnel Management deems it necessary, the primary examination and secondary examination may be concurrently administered, and an oral examination or practical examination may be conducted. <Amended on Jun. 29, 2012; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

(2) The competent Minister may request the Minister of Personnel Management to administer the secondary examination of the examination for general promotion to Grade V using essay items. In such cases, he or she shall request the relevant secondary examination using essay items one year before the date the relevant examination is requested to be conducted. <Amended on Jun. 29, 2012; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

(3) Persons who pass the primary examination shall be exempted from the primary examination of the next examination for general promotion to Grade V which they take after meeting the requirements for taking the relevant examination.

(4) An examination for general promotion where persons who pass the bar examination are appointed to positions of public officials in the occupational group of administration shall be administered by means of an oral examination and document screening.

(5) Persons who hold a doctoral degree and a certificate of qualification (or a license), who are exempted from a written examination of the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials for public officials in Grade V and the competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced foreign service officers for foreign service officers in Grade V pursuant to Article 28(2)2 and 10 of the Act and Article 29(1) of this Decree, take an examination for general promotion to Grade V in the series of classes corresponding to such doctoral degree and certificate of qualification (or such license), the examination for general promotion to Grade V may be administered by means of an oral examination and document screening. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Oct. 8, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 44(Determination of success in examinations for general promotion to Grade V) #

(1) Persons who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject and at least 60 percent of the total scores in all subjects in the primary examination of the examination for general promotion to Grade V shall be determined to be persons who pass the primary examination portion thereof, and, among those who obtain scores at least 40 percent of the perfect score in each subject in the secondary examination thereof (including cases where the primary examination and secondary examination are concurrently administered pursuant to the proviso of Article 43(1)), persons who pass the secondary examination shall be determined one by one beginning with persons who obtain the highest total scores in the ratio of 70 percent of scores in the examination and 30 percent of the evaluation scores in the list of candidates for promotion until they reach the number of persons requested to pass the secondary examination. <Amended on Jun. 29, 2012>

(2) The main clause of Article 30(2) or paragraph (3) of that Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the determination of persons who pass the oral examination and final suitability review under Article 43(1),(4), and (5). In such cases, a "competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials" shall be deemed an "examination for general promotion to Grade V." <Amended on Apr. 22, 2013>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 45(Suspension of eligibility to take examination for general promotion) #

For any of the following persons in the examination for general promotion to Grade V, his or her eligibility to take an additional examination to be administered in the relevant year shall be suspended:

1. Where he or she fails to pass the examination because he or she obtains a score in at least one subject in the primary examination less than 40 percent of the perfect score;

2. Where he or she fails to take the examination without justifiable reasons, such as a sickness or the performance of duties under other statutes or regulations.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 46(Calculation of scores in examination for changing jobs and examination for promotion) #

(1) Scores under Articles 38,40, and 44 shall be calculated down to two decimal places.

(2) Where there are persons who obtain the same scores in excess of the number of persons to be selected when determining success in the open competitive examination for promotion and the examination for general promotion, all such persons who obtain the same scores shall be determined to be persons who pass the examination. In such cases, the same score obtained by several persons shall be calculated down to two decimal places (in case of the examination for general promotion, the same score shall be calculated down to three decimal places).

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 47(Public announcement of examination) #

(1) Where the head of an examination-administering institution intends to administer an open competitive examination for employment, an open competitive promotion examination, or the selection examination for foreign service official candidates, he or she shall publicly announce the matters set forth in the following subparagraphs, so that all applicants may be informed thereof, by daily newspapers, broadcasting, the Internet, or any other effective means, by no later than 20 days before the examination date (where all subjects of the first-stage examination are replaced with the examinations prescribed in each subparagraph of the latter part of Article 7(1), the examination date of the first-stage examination shall be deemed to be the date of announcement of successful candidates of the first-stage examination; hereafter in this paragraph the same shall apply); provided, matters for which advance announcement is necessary, such as examination schedules for the open competitive examination for employment and the selection examination for diplomatic officer candidates, shall be publicly announced by no later than 90 days before the examination date, and where the announced matters are changed due to an unavoidable reason, the details of such change shall be publicly announced by no later than 7 days before the examination date. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2010; May 1, 2012; Nov. 27, 2012; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. Matters provided for in Article 37 of the Act;

2. Subjects tested in the examination and a percentage allocation of the scores;

3. Time and Method of announcement of persons who pass the examination;

4. Place where application forms are delivered; the place where application forms are received; and the deadline for the receipt thereof;

5. Matters concerning various special favors and benefits to persons who pass the examination;

6. Other matters necessary to administer the examination.

(2) Where the head of the agency conducting examinations intends to conduct a competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials, he or she shall publicly announce matters under the subparagraphs of paragraph (1) on the website, etc. of the agency conducting examinations no later than 10 days before the closing date for receipt of applications for the relevant examination, so that all persons eligible to take the examination may know those matters; provided, where he or she alters the details of the public announcement for reasons beyond his or her control, he or she shall publicly announce the details of the alteration thereof no later than seven days before the date of examination. <Amended on Feb. 12, 2010; Nov. 1, 2011; Nov. 15, 2022>

(3) Where the number of persons who take the examination is equal to or less than the number of persons to be selected (including cases where there is no person who takes the examination) after public announcement under paragraph (2), the head of the examination administering agency may determine the date of examination again and publicly announce the competitive examination for the employment of experienced public officials under the main clause of paragraph (2) again. <Added on Feb. 12, 2010; Nov. 1, 2011>

(4) To select public officials who work during the term of office on a contractual basis, the head of the examination administering agency need not publicly announce the examination in any of the following cases, notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2): <Added on Dec. 4, 2013; Oct. 8, 2014>

1. Where he or she incurs too much expenses in conducting the examination for employment when he or she employs specialized public officials who work the term of office on a contractual basis or there are other extraordinary reasons corresponding thereto;

2. Where he or she employs foreigners and North Korean refugees under subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the North Korean Refugees Protection and Settlement Support Act as public officials who work during the term of office on a contractual basis, in which case there are reasons beyond his or her control;

3. Where he or she employs public officials who work during the term of office on a contractual basis within six months for filling vacancies of persons who take a leave of absence or to implement a project for a short period;

4. Where he or she employs public officials who temporarily work during the term of office on a contractual basis.

(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the head of the examination administering agency may set a different deadline for the public announcement as determined by the Minister of Personnel Management if necessary to urgently recruit human resources due to the occurrence of a disaster, etc. <Added on Sep. 22, 2020; Nov. 15, 2022>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 48(Postponement or alteration of examinations) #

Where the head of the examination administering agency deems it difficult to conduct the examination on the date publicly announced due to an act of God or other reasons beyond his or her control, he or she may postpone all or part of the examination or conduct the examination after altering the date publicly announced. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Added on Apr. 4, 2011]

Article 49(Inspection of examinations) #

(1) The Minister of Personnel Management shall inspect the implementation of examinations of each agency and may request the competent Minister to take corrective measures where he or she deems that matters concerning the implementation of examinations violate statutes or regulations or the administration of examinations is especially inappropriate. <Amended on Sep. 10, 2009; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

(2) Unless the head of the agency requested to take corrective measures pursuant to paragraph (1) has a proper reason for not taking corrective measures, he or she shall without delay take necessary measures and notify the Minister of Personnel Management of the result thereof. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 49-2(Inspection of competitive examinations, etc. for employment of experienced public officials) #

(1) Where the competent Minister conducts a competitive examination, etc. for the employment of experienced public officials under Article 28(2) of the Act, he or she shall inspect whether the employment process has been conducted appropriately prior to the announcement of persons who ultimately pass the examination, as determined by the Minister of Personnel Management. <Amended on Nov. 1, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2014; Sep. 22, 2020>

(2) Deleted. <Sep. 22, 2020>

[This Article Added on Apr. 4, 2011]

[Title Amended on Nov. 1, 2011]

Article 50(Payment of stipends to examiners) #

Stipends shall be paid to examiners, examination proctors and examination developers within the budget.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 51(Measures against cheaters) #

(1) With respect to a person who has committed any act falling under any of the following subparagraphs in an appointment examination (including the public service qualification assessment; hereafter in this Article the same shall apply), the examination shall be suspended or invalidated, or the passing thereof shall be canceled, and such person's eligibility to take examinations under this Decree or other examinations for the appointment of State public officials shall be suspended for 5 years from the date on which such disposition is made: <Amended on Feb. 12, 2010; Oct. 8, 2014; Nov. 19, 2014; Jun. 2, 2025>

1. Copying another test taker's answer or showing his or her answer to another test taker;

2. Requesting another person to take the examination on his or her behalf or taking the examination on behalf of another person;

3. Communicating with others concerning the details of the relevant examination using a communications device, other signals, etc.;

4. Having or using unauthorized materials;

5. Sating false facts in, or forging or altering, documentary evidence relating to examinations, such as documents relating to military service, additional points, English proficiency tests, Korean History Proficiency Tests, and the public service qualification assessment, thereby unduly affecting the examination results;

6. Taking a prohibited drug or using a prohibited method prescribed and announced by the Minister of Personnel Management for the purpose of having an influence on a practical examination measuring physical strength under Article 5(4) by means of practice;

7. Having an influence on the result of the examination taken by him or her or another person by other improper means.

(2) A person who engages in any of the following acts in an examination for appointment shall be punished by a suspension or annulment of the examination:

1. Reading examination questions before the commencement of the examination;

2. Answering questions before the commencement of the examination or after the completion of the examination;

3. Having a communications device or electronic calculator not allowed;

4. Other acts prescribed and announced by the head of the examination administering agency as criteria for suspension or annulment of the examination, which have an influence on fair administration of the examination.

(3) No person whose eligibility to take an examination has been suspended because he or she committed cheating in the examination for the appointment of State public officials or local public officials shall take any examination under this Decree during the period of suspension of his or her eligibility.

(4) Where the head of the examination administering agency imposes dispositions under paragraph (1), he or she shall notify the persons on whom dispositions are imposed of the fact along with the reasons therefor, and publish the list of such persons in the Official Gazette. In such cases, the head of the agency conducting examinations shall notify the Minister of Personnel Management of the results of such dispositions. <Amended on May 8, 2018>

(5) Where a person who committed cheating is a public official, the head of the examination administering agency shall request the competent disciplinary committee to vote for disciplinary action or the head of the agency to which the public official belongs to take disciplinary action.

(6) The head of the examination administering agency shall confirm whether a test taker falls under paragraph (1)6, as prescribed by the Minister of Personnel Management. <Added on Oct. 8, 2014; Nov. 19, 2014>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 51-2(Revocation of success in examination for persons involved in misconduct in recruitment) #

(1) "Misconduct prescribed by Presidential Decree, etc." in the former part of Article 45-3(1) of the Act means undermining the fairness of an employment examination, such as intervening in or having undue influence on the employment examination, in violation of statutes or regulations.

(2) Where the head of the examination administering agency or the appointing authority intends to revoke success in an examination or appointment under the former part of Article 45-3(1) of the Act, he or she shall submit it for deliberation by a deliberative committee on misconduct in recruitment under Article 51-3(1).

(3) The head of the examination administering agency or the appointing authority shall notify the parties of the following matters no later than 10 days before a meeting of a deliberative committee on misconduct in recruitment prescribed in Article 51-3(1), under the latter part of Article 45-3(1) of the Act:

1. Details of and reasons for revoking success in the examination or appointment;

2. Explanation deadline;

3. Explanation methods;

4. Measures to be taken if no explanation is provided;

5. Other matters necessary for explanation.

(4) Where a party in receipt of a notice under paragraph (3) fails to provide an explanation by the deadline specified in paragraph (3)2 without good cause, the head of the examination administering agency or the appointing authority need not give an additional opportunity to provide explanation.

[This Article Added on Nov. 30, 2021]

Article 51-3(Establishment of deliberative committee on misconduct in recruitment) #

(1) A deliberative committee on misconduct in recruitment (hereafter in this Article, referred to as "deliberative committee") shall be established under the jurisdiction of the head of the examination administering agency or the appointing authority to deliberate on whether to revoke success in an examination or appointment under the former part of Article 45-3(1) of the Act.

(2) A deliberative committee shall be comprised of at least five but not more than seven members, including one chairperson.

(3) The chairperson of a deliberative committee shall be the head of the examination administering agency, the appointing authority, or a public official nominated by the head of the examination administering agency or the appointing authority.

(4) The members of a deliberative committee shall be the following persons:

1. A person nominated by the head of the examination administering agency or by the appointing authority, from among public officials whose ranks are higher than the ranks assigned or to be assigned to the person subject to the revocation of success in an examination or appointment (including public officials who are members of the Senior Executive Service);

2. A person commissioned by the head of the examination administering agency or the appointing authority, from among persons with extensive knowledge of and experience in the field of personnel, law, or labor.

(5) Any resolution of a deliberative committee shall require the concurring vote of a majority of the incumbent members.

(6) If necessary for deliberation, a deliberative committee may demand relevant persons to attend its meeting, present opinions, or submit articles of evidence.

(7) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (6), matters necessary for the organization and operation, etc. of a deliberative committee shall be determined by the Minister of Personnel Management.

[This Article Added on Nov. 30, 2021]

Article 52(Issuance of Certificate of Passing) #

(1) Where a person who passes the examination for appointment applies for an issuance of the certificate of passing, etc., the head of the examination administering agency shall issue it.

(2) If an applicant for an examination for appointment (including the public service qualification assessment) applies for the issuance of a certificate of examination results determined by the Minister of Personnel Management, the head of the examination administering agency may issue the relevant certificate, as determined by the Minister. <Added on Dec. 10, 2024; Jun. 2, 2025>

(3) A person who intends to be issued a certificate of passing, etc. shall pay a fee of 200 won per copy by using a revenue stamp; provided, if he or she applies for an issuance of the certificate of passing, etc. via the Internet, he or she shall pay a fee by means of electronic money, electronic payment, etc. through the information and communications network, and if he or she is issued a certificate of passing, etc. or a certificate of examination results in electronic form, the fee shall be waived. <Amended on Apr. 4, 2011; Dec. 10, 2024>

[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 6, 2009]

Article 53(Processing of sensitive information and personally identifiable information) #

Where unavoidable to conduct the examination (including the public service qualification assessment) and affairs regarding employment under this Decree, the head of the examination administering agency may process the information on health under Article 23 of the Personal Information Protection Act or the data containing resident registration numbers under subparagraph 1 of Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of that Act or alien registration numbers under subparagraph 4 of that Article. <Amended on Jun. 2, 2025>

[This Article Added on Apr. 23, 2024]