[Report] "Even if anxious, we can't give up studying" Public exam students in Noryangjin unable to leave despite infection concerns

Government Resumes Hiring 48,000 Civil Servants and Public Institution Employees
Experts Emphasize Importance of Government-Level Management and Supervision

On the afternoon of the 9th, at a civil service exam academy located in Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, examinees are deeply focused on their studies while wearing masks. Photo by Seulgi Kim, intern reporter sabiduriakim@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporters Suwan Kim and Intern Seulgi Kim] "This is my last chance."

As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues to rise daily, the academy district in Noryangjin-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, remains crowded with civil service exam candidates (Gongsisaeng). Experts emphasize that government management and supervision are necessary to prevent cluster infections.

At around noon on the 9th, civil service exam candidates met in the Noryangjin academy district expressed that although they are worried about COVID-19 infection, they cannot give up studying.

Park (28), preparing for the prosecutor civil service exam, said, "I do feel uneasy about coming to the academy to study because of COVID-19. However, I have no choice but to come to the academy to listen to parts of the lectures that I cannot get from video lectures," adding, "I come just briefly to attend classes and then return home to study."

Park explained, "Inside the academy, students generally sit apart to study. We follow rules such as not being allowed to enter the academy without wearing a mask," and added, "I think it’s fortunate that the civil service exam, which was postponed, has resumed. From the perspective of a candidate, it would have been difficult if it had been delayed further since I have been studying all this time."

Lee (29), who said he is preparing for the Grade 7 civil service exam, responded to reporters’ question about whether he feels uneasy with the ongoing COVID-19 cases, "I know. Of course, I know the situation is getting worse because of COVID-19, but since there are people studying even at such times, I have to work hard too."

Earlier, the government announced at the 6th Emergency Economic Meeting chaired by President Moon Jae-in on the 1st that it would create 1.54 million public jobs by injecting finances to defend against employment shocks caused by COVID-19. Accordingly, the postponed recruitment procedures for 23,000 national civil servants and 25,000 public institution employees will resume in June. In addition, recruitment procedures such as interviews will be expedited so that successful candidates can start working from the third quarter (July to September).

On the afternoon of the 9th, at a civil service exam academy located in Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, an academy staff member is checking the body temperatures of entrants using a thermal imaging camera installed at the entrance. Photo by Seulgi Kim, Intern Reporter sabiduriakim@asiae.co.kr

Contrary to the students’ statements, social distancing was not properly observed inside the academy. Although the academy made efforts to prevent infection by measuring temperatures with non-contact thermometers before entering classrooms and even using thermal imaging cameras, maintaining a 1-meter distance was practically impossible due to the cramped classrooms.

Kim (27), who has been preparing for the national civil service exam for two years, said, "Since all students wear masks, I don’t particularly feel uneasy," but added, "There is no enforcement of the 1-meter distancing inside the academy. They ask us to sit apart as much as possible, but sometimes there are students who do not wear masks inside."

In response to such concerns, the academy stated that it is thoroughly managing to prevent infections among students. Employee A (30), who was measuring temperatures at the entrance of a civil service academy in Noryangjin, emphasized, "You must have your temperature checked to enter the academy. If you don’t wear a mask, you cannot enter."

A said, "Students’ awareness is not bad; if they have a cough or symptoms, they come forward and report it themselves. Then we connect them to office staff or take other measures."

Some voices criticize the resumption of the civil service exam. This is because cluster infections related to the Itaewon clubs and others are concentrated among young people in their 20s and 30s. On the 11th of last month, a petition titled 'Please postpone the schedules of various national exams and professional certification exams scheduled for May and June' was posted on the Blue House’s public petition board.

On the afternoon of the 9th, in the alley of the Noryangjin academy district in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, examinees are passing by busily.
Photo by Suwan Kim suwan@asiae.co.kr

Regarding this, the government’s position is that it is acceptable as long as the exams are conducted as safely as possible. Kang-lip Kim, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 15th of last month, "Starting with the Grade 5 public official exam, the postponed national exams will proceed," and added, "We hope that both examinees and supervisors strictly follow quarantine guidelines to conduct the exams safely, serving as an example of social distancing in daily life."

Experts pointed out that government supervision is more important than the candidates’ studying. Professor Jung-sik Eom, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said, "It would be difficult to postpone the civil service exams," and added, "If the government fails to hire the necessary civil servants on time, the loss will be significant and it will be detrimental to the long-term COVID-19 response." He continued, "Although it is hard to see attending classes in cramped classrooms as the government’s direct responsibility, it is true that active management is needed for spaces that have conditions conducive to easy infection transmission."

Professor Woo-joo Kim, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, explained, "We cannot stop desperate candidates from studying," and said, "If they follow rules such as physical distancing and wearing masks well, studying at the academy is okay."

He added, "Currently, the government issues assembly bans on all problematic places, causing a vicious cycle to repeat. Such policies may be unfair to places that follow the rules well," and emphasized, "The most important thing is for the government to enforce regulations properly so that guidelines can be well observed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.