67 Confirmed Cases in Noryangjin Restrict Eligibility for Civil Service Exam Applicants

One day before the secondary teacher certification exam, multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19 occurred at a large teacher certification exam academy in Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 20th. The photo shows the academy where the confirmed cases occurred that afternoon. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] On the 21st, 67 people confirmed with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) at a large teacher certification exam academy in Noryangjin, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, were unable to take the secondary school teacher certification exam.

At around 8:30 a.m. that day, the Ministry of Education held an emergency inspection meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye to check the test results of those subject to self-quarantine from the Noryangjin teacher certification exam academy among the examinees and to review the operation status of separate test centers.

The day before, a large number of examinees preparing for the physical education teacher certification exam at the Noryangjin teacher certification exam academy tested positive for COVID-19, and examinees preparing for the exam in the same building became subjects for COVID-19 diagnostic testing. It is known that about 600 examinees were preparing for the physical education teacher certification exam.

Some argued that the certification exam should be postponed, but the education authorities proceeded with the exam as scheduled that day.

As of 7:30 a.m. that day, the number of confirmed cases originating from the Noryangjin academy was 67. Two students tested positive on the 18th and 19th, and the infection spread through contacts such as instructors thereafter.

All 67 confirmed examinees were restricted from taking the exam by the Ministry of Education's attendance limitation measures. Each city and provincial education office had previously announced in the teacher certification exam implementation plan that "persons receiving inpatient treatment notices and undergoing isolation treatment are not allowed to take the exam."

Among the examinees, excluding those confirmed with COVID-19 from Noryangjin, 537 were identified as subjects for diagnostic testing. Of these, 142 examinees classified as close contacts were notified to self-quarantine and, after testing negative, took the exam at separate test centers. Other examinees who were not classified as close contacts and thus did not self-quarantine were also notified as testing subjects and took the exam at separate test centers.

The secondary school teacher certification exam started at 9 a.m. at 110 test sites nationwide, with 3,076 exam rooms (based on general test sites and rooms), targeting 60,233 examinees, and was scheduled to conclude at 2:20 p.m.

Separately, 19 separate test sites with 122 test rooms were operated nationwide for those under self-quarantine and mass testing. City and provincial education offices deployed 203 supervisors wearing protective suits to manage the exam according to quarantine guidelines. Additionally, desks in separate test sites and rooms were spaced 2 meters apart.

Considering the large number of self-quarantined and tested examinees in the physical education subject exam, 21 ambulances and 49 paramedics were stationed at 24 test sites, including general and separate test sites where the physical education exam was held, to prepare for emergencies.

The Ministry of Education stated, "As of 10 a.m., operations are normal," and added, "We will maintain close cooperation and response posture with city and provincial education offices until the exam concludes at 2:20 p.m. and will respond immediately if any unusual situations arise."

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