Noryangjin sees resurgence of civil service candidates in their 30s
The number of civil service exam candidates is increasing in Noryangjin, with a notable rise in individuals in their 30s seeking job stability. Managed study rooms in the area are seeing high demand, often maintaining waiting lists of dozens of people.
Noryangjin is bustling again as more candidates in their 30s seek stable civil service positions, with some students enrolling in managed study rooms that require studying for more than 55 hours a week.
The number of civil service exam candidates is increasing again. As the popularity of civil service positions once waned, Noryangjin in Seoul, which used to bustle with students preparing for these exams, had become quiet. However, the area is now bustling once more, particularly with an increasing number of candidates in their 30s.
Ji-eun (pseudonym), who is 33 years old this year, began preparing for the police officer exam in 2023 after considering various options following university graduation. Although she has failed the exam three times, she passed the written test this past August and is now awaiting the final interview stage. She chose a civil service career to secure a stable job. Jun-ho (pseudonym), in his late 30s, was previously a business owner of a small to medium-sized enterprise but decided to quit after experiencing burnout. After submitting resumes to more than ten companies without success, he eventually decided to challenge the Grade 9 civil service exam. These individuals, who once followed different paths, are now returning to prepare for civil service exams.
The landscape of Noryangjin has changed from a decade ago. In the past, long lines formed at the "cup bap" street during lunchtime, and students would line up in front of academies from dawn to attend lectures by famous instructors. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic made online lectures commonplace, the scene in Noryangjin has begun to shift. As students move away from living in Noryangjin goshiwons to attend lectures in person, large academies are also reducing their scale.
One candidate in her late 20s reported leaving Noryangjin after studying there for a month, noting that there is sufficient study material available to study alone and that the unique atmosphere of Noryangjin was exhausting. Despite this, many students still visit the area. In particular, "managed study rooms" reportedly always have dozens of people on waiting lists. Upon enrolling, students must hand over their mobile phones and study for more than 55 hours a week, voluntarily choosing these restrictions to pass the exam.
Most of the candidates in their 30s interviewed had previously held other jobs. The primary reason they choose civil service is "stability." One candidate in her late 30s, who had been laid off from two different permanent positions, said, "I don't want to be stressed by that kind of instability again."
Fair opportunity is another reason. A 34-year-old candidate who passed the final exam this year said, "Graduates from regional universities have fewer opportunities to challenge large corporations," adding, "I am grateful for an exam that judges solely on ability." Kim Seong-hee, director of the Institute for Industrial and Labor Policy, stated that the increasingly delayed entry of youth into the labor market is itself a danger signal, noting, "Youth should not be left to a game where only a few pass and the majority must fail."
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