Grounds for Disqualification: Prevention of employment of unqualified persons for public office

Applicants should not fall under the reasons for disqualification specified in Article 33 of the State Public Officials Act (Article 9 of the Foreign Service Officials Act for foreign officials and Article 50 of the Prosecutors’ Office Act for prosecutors and drug offense investigators) (as of the last day of the interview) and applicants whose qualifications have been suspended in accordance with relevant laws such as the Decree on Public Officials Appointment Examinations cannot take the test.

Article 33 of the State Public Officials Act

• An adult ward
• A person who was declared bankrupt and has not yet been reinstated
• A person in whose case five years have not passed since his/her imprisonment without prison labor or a heavier punishment as declared by a court was completely executed or exempted
• A person who was sentenced to the suspension of the execution of imprisonment without prison labor or a heavier punishment and for whom two years have not passed since the period of suspension expired
• A person who is under a suspended sentence of imprisonment without prison labor or a heavier punishment as declared by a court
• A person who is disqualified, or whose qualification is suspended, pursuant to a judgment of the court or other Acts
• A person who committed a crime prescribed in Articles 355 and 356 of the Criminal Act with regard to his/her duty during his/her period of service as public official, and for whom two years have not passed from the time punishment became final and conclusive after being sentenced to a fine of not less than three million won
• A person who committed a crime prescribed in Article 2 of the 「Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes」, and for whom three years have not passed from the time punishment became final and conclusive after being sentenced to a fine of not less than one million won
• A person who is dismissed for any of the following crimes against a minor, or who has been sentenced to medical supervision and is confirmed to be sentenced to treatment and supervision (Including persons whose probation period has elapsed after being sentenced to probation).
• Sexual crimes under Article 2 of the 「Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes」
• Sexual offenses against children and youth under subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sex Offenses
• A person who was removed from office by a disciplinary action, and for whom five years have not passed thereafter
• A person who was dismissed by a disciplinary action, and for whom three years have not passed thereafter

Applicant Age

• Abolition of the upper age limit for examination in order to give equal opportunities regardless of age to persons who wish to serve in public office
  • Recruitment exam for Civil servants in career service: Grade 7 or higher - Age 20 or higher, Grade 8 or lower - Age 18 or higher (20 years of age for the correction and protection series)

Educational Background

Abolition of educational background restrictions in order to give equal opportunities to those who wish to serve in public office regardless of academic background
※ History: Restrictions on academic background until 1972 & abolition of restrictions on academic background after 1973