Last Korean-language civil service exam draws 39.8-to-1 competition ratio as Gongdangi launches score-prediction service

The last regional Grade 7 civil service written exam under the existing format — before a sweeping overhaul takes effect next year — is set for Oct. 31. A total of 19,812 people applied for 498 positions across 14 cities and provinces nationwide, yielding an average competition ratio of 39.8 to 1.

Gongdangi, the civil service exam brand of edtech company ST Unitas, said Tuesday it has opened pre-registration for its full score-prediction service ahead of the 2026 regional Grade 7 civil service written exam on Oct. 31.

This year's regional Grade 7 exam will be the last written test to include the Korean language subject in its current form. From 2027, Korean will be replaced by the Public Service Aptitude Test, or PSAT, and the written exam will be split into first and second stages. The number of questions per specialist subject will also increase from 20 to 25.

Under the reform plan announced by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, first-stage candidates will be selected based on PSAT scores starting next year, followed by a written exam in each applicant's specialist track. The number of first-stage passers will be capped at 10 times the number of positions available. The PSAT measures core competencies required for public service, including logical reasoning, analytical thinking and situational judgment.

Competition ratios for this year's regional Grade 7 exam vary sharply by location. Daegu recorded a ratio of 130.8 to 1, while Gyeonggi Province came in at a comparatively low 19.3 to 1. Because passing scores differ depending on the number of positions available in each region and track, carefully reviewing self-scored results after the exam is increasingly important for candidates.

"Right after the exam, it is important not only to check your own estimated score but also to see how you rank against other test-takers," an ST Unitas official said. "We will help candidates quickly access the information they need — such as projected passing scores and rankings — so they can plan their next steps for studying and interview preparation."