Overview
The National Grade 9 (국가직 9급) Public Official Recruitment Examination is South Korea's largest-intake national civil service exam, recruiting into entry-level administrative and technical positions across national government ministries, run by the Ministry of Personnel Management.
Who can apply
Applicants must be Korean nationals meeting general civil-service eligibility requirements (age and other standard criteria), with no university degree required for most Grade 9 positions, making it accessible to a broad range of candidates including high-school graduates.
Exam pattern
The exam is primarily a multiple-choice written test covering a set of required and selected subjects specific to the job series applied for (such as Korean language, English, Korean history, and additional subjects depending on the track), followed by an interview for candidates who pass the written stage.
Marking and results
Final selection combines the written exam score and interview result; because Grade 9 recruits a relatively large number of positions each cycle compared to Grade 5 or Grade 7, but also attracts a very large number of applicants, overall competition remains intense.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through the government's civil service recruitment portal during the application window announced for that year's cycle and job series.
After the exam
Candidates who pass both stages are appointed to Grade 9 positions across national government ministries, considered the standard entry point into the Korean national civil service for most candidates.
Preparation tips
Because the written exam is multiple-choice across a fixed set of subjects, extensive practice with past papers and subject-specific question banks for the required and selected subjects is the standard, well-established preparation method among candidates.
Is a university degree required for the National Grade 9 exam?
No, most Grade 9 positions do not require a university degree, making this route accessible to high-school graduates as well.
What format does the Grade 9 written exam use?
Primarily multiple-choice, covering required and selected subjects specific to the job series applied for.