Noryangjin in Seoul, once crowded with countless civil service exam aspirants, became quiet as the popularity of government jobs waned. Recently, however, test-takers are reportedly increasing again, with a noticeable rise in those over the age of 30. Ji-eun (a pseudonym), who is 33 years old this year, began preparing for the police civil service exam in 2023 after contemplating various paths following her college graduation. Although she has already faced setbacks in three exams, she passed the written exam in August and is awaiting the final hurdle: the interview. The reason Ji-eun chose to become a public official is to have a stable job. Jun-ho (a pseudonym) in his late 30s was until recently the CEO of a small-to-medium-sized enterprise, but quit the company after experiencing burnout. After submitting resumes to more than ten places without landing a job easily, he ultimately decided to challenge himself with the Grade 9 civil service exam. People who once walked different paths are once again challenging civil service exams. About a decade ago in Noryangjin, people formed long lines in the cupbap street during lunchtime, and queues outside academies began as early as dawn to attend lectures by star instructors. However, as online lectures became widespread following COVID-19, the scenery of Noryangjin began to change. As test-takers shifted away from living in Noryangjin gosiwons (budget study dormitories) and taking in-person classes, large academies are also scaling down. A test-taker in her late 20s reportedly studied in Noryangjin for a month before leaving the area, saying that there are sufficient study materials to prepare alone, and Noryangjin's unique atmosphere exhausted her. Even so, there are still many test-takers visiting Noryangjin. In particular, "managed study rooms" reportedly always have dozens of people on waiting lists. Registering for these requires handing over mobile phones and studying for 55 hours or more per week, meaning students voluntarily choose restrictions to pass the exam. Most of the test-takers in their 30s met by the reporting team had worked other jobs at least once. The reason they chose public service is, above all, stability. A test-taker in his late 30s said that layoffs occurred at both of the regular positions he worked at, adding, "I don't want to suffer stress from that kind of instability ever again." Fair opportunity is another reason. A 34-year-old test-taker who successfully passed the civil service exam this year said, "Graduates from regional universities have fewer opportunities to challenge themselves at large corporations," adding, "I am grateful for an exam that judges solely based on ability." Kim Sung-hee, head of the Institute for Industrial and Labor Policy, pointed out that the delayed entry of young people into the labor market itself is a risk signal, stating, "We must not leave young people abandoned in a game where only a minority pass and the majority have no choice but to fail."

This week, <News Story> meets test-takers in their 30s who are challenging civil service exams once again and tours Noryangjin, known as the mecca of civil service exams.