"Why do it when you can't even earn 2 million won?"... 9th Grade Civil Servant Competition Rate Hits Lowest in 30 Years

Low Salaries and Pension Reforms Reduce Appeal
Experts Say "Past Public Service Preference Was Overheated... Normalization Process"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Job seeker Lee (23) changed direction from preparing for the Grade 9 civil service exam to a financial public enterprise after learning that the starting salary for Grade 9 is less than 2 million won. Lee said, "The pension amount has also significantly decreased, so it doesn't seem very attractive." Jo (26), who graduated from university this year, also said, "I've heard too many times that work-life balance is poor for both local government and national civil servants," adding, "If the pay is low and weekend work is required, there's no reason to become a civil servant." Kwon (27), preparing for a job at a large corporation, said, "The civil service seems to have a strict hierarchical culture," and added, "I want to be rewarded according to how much I work."

The once highly popular civil service, known as a "divine workplace" and a symbol of job security, is no longer as favored as before. In particular, the Grade 9 civil service exam, considered relatively easy among civil service exams for entry-level positions, has seen a sharp decline in competition rates.

According to the Ministry of Personnel Management on the 5th, the competition rate for the 2022 Grade 9 national civil service exam was 29.2 to 1, the lowest in the past 30 years. The competition rate for this exam soared to 93.1 to 1 in 2011 but has steadily declined from 41 to 1 in 2018 to 35 to 1 in 2021. It is analyzed that the MZ generation (those born in the 1980s to 2000s) were influenced by low salaries, pension reforms, and a preference for work-life balance. The promise of a 2 million won monthly salary for soldiers, a pledge by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, also stimulated the trend among civil service exam takers and job seekers to move away from Grade 9 positions.

Current civil servants are also leaving one after another. This is interpreted as a result of high work intensity and increased responsibility. It has been confirmed that some have moved to places like the cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb and AI graduate schools.

Experts analyze that the popularity of civil service may decline further in the future due to the MZ generation's emphasis on self-directed tendencies and preference for pragmatism. In fact, according to the '2021 Social Survey Results' released by Statistics Korea in November 2021, the most desired workplace for those aged 13 to 34 was large corporations (21.6%).

Professor Kim Taeyoon of Hanyang University's Department of Public Administration said, "This reflects the perception that lifetime earnings are significantly lower compared to companies and that self-realization at work is not possible," adding, "As the merit of companies grows, the preference for public service is expected to decline further." Professor Park Jeongsu of Ewha Womans University's Department of Public Administration also said, "The preference for public service was somewhat overheated," and added, "It seems that aspects such as decreased job satisfaction and unmet expectations are being reflected."

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