According to a recent online survey conducted by the Korea TOEIC Committee on 6,405 participants consisting of students and salaried workers, nearly 59 percent said they are either interested in taking a civil service entrance exam or are already in the preparation process, the company announced yesterday. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 24 (Korea Bizwire) – With employment stability rapidly becoming one of the most important considerations for those seeking a job, more than half of the university students and salaried workers in South Korea are eyeing the idea of becoming a civil servant.
According to a recent online survey conducted by the Korea TOEIC Committee on 6,405 participants consisting of students and salaried workers, nearly 59 percent said they are either interested in taking a civil service entrance exam or are already in the preparation process, the company announced yesterday.
When broken down in detail, 14.8 percent were already preparing for the exam, while 43.7 percent showed interest in following suit.
Most respondents who participated in the multiple choice survey said ‘stable employment security’ until retirement was the reason behind their interest in what used to be deemed as ‘boring’ and ‘repetitive’ jobs, amid a long-term economic slump and record high youth unemployment rates in the country in recent years.
Others said a great welfare system and better working conditions (49.8 percent) while those who thought highly of the recruitment process and pension benefits for civil servants accounted for 27.7 percent and 24.6 percent respectively.
In the meantime, nearly 18 percent of the respondents who are toying with the idea of becoming a civil servant said they are doing so merely because they haven’t found their true calling yet.
When it came to the types of civil service entrance exams, the test for entry level 9 civil servants was most popular, accounting for 42.3 percent of test-takers, followed by level 7 (32.7 percent) and level 5 (4.9 percent)
The firefighter test was among the least popular, accounting for only 0.8 percent of those interested.
Many cited having a positive attitude and determination as among the traits required to successfully endure what could be a long and difficult journey before landing a job in the civil service sector.
However, the survey also shed light on the 41.5 percent who weren’t interested in becoming a civil servant, many of whom were worried about the long and costly preparation period which could drag on for years in some cases, hindering their social life without a regular source of income over a lengthy period of time.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
