This year's national public service open competitive examination selection is finalized at 5,272 people. This is about 8% less than last year (5,751 people), continuing a four-year decline.
The Ministry of Personnel Management announced the 2025 national public service open competitive recruitment examination plan on the Cyber National Examination Center on the 2nd.
The number of recruits by grade is 4,330 for the 9th grade open competitive examination, 595 for the 7th grade, and 305 for the 5th grade. Also, there are 42 diplomat candidates. Only the number of 5th-grade recruits remains the same as last year, with all others decreased.
The national public service open competitive examination selection has been decreasing continuously since 2021 (6,825 people). Starting with a slight decrease to 6,819 in 2022, it continued to decrease in 2023 (6,396 people) and 2024 (5,751 people). Last year was the first time since 2016 (5,372 people) that the number fell below 6,000 in eight years.
This year's main recruitment areas include ▲ 728 in correctional positions, 264 in prosecutorial positions, and 148 in immigration management positions for public safety assurance ▲ 1,045 in tax-related positions, 136 in forestry positions, and 134 in tariff positions for citizen life protection ▲ 199 in information technology positions and 108 in statistics positions for digital government support.
The government plans to actively guarantee employment opportunities for people with disabilities (grades 7 and 9) and low-income individuals (grade 9). A total of 300 people (7.6%) with disabilities will be recruited, doubling the legally mandated employment rate (3.8%). For low-income individuals, 124 people (2.9%) will be recruited, exceeding the legal obligation rate (2%) for grade 9 selections.
This year's national public service open competitive written examinations will be held ▲ on March 8 for 5th grade and diplomat candidates ▲ on April 5 for 9th grade ▲on July 19 for 7th grade.
From this year, optional subjects are removed from the 5th-grade open competitive second examination, and it will be conducted only with existing compulsory subjects. The interdisciplinary essay test (Ⅰ・Ⅱ) for diplomat candidates will be integrated into 'interdisciplinary essay test.' Additionally, Korean and English subjects in the 9th-grade open competitive examination will consist of questions assessing the competencies required for job performance.
Yeon Won-jeong, head of the Ministry of Personnel Management, noted, “We hope that many talented individuals who wish to enhance the quality of life for citizens and serve the nation will apply.”