"What If I’m Penalized for Following Government Advice?"... Why Applicants Stick to Suits Even When Jeans Are Recommended

Ministry of Personnel Management Stresses "Casual Attire"
Examples Now Include Jeans and Denim Skirts
Public Reaction Divided Over New Dress Code Examples

For several years, simple attire such as ‘no tie’ has been encouraged at national civil servant recruitment interviews. However, a significant number of applicants still maintain the convention of wearing suits and dress shoes. In response, the Ministry of Personnel Management has once again taken steps away from formalwear by providing photographic examples of recommended outfits, including jeans and sneakers.

Although simple attire such as 'no tie' has been encouraged in national civil servant recruitment interviews for several years, a significant number of applicants still continue the practice of wearing suits and dress shoes. Photo by Younghan Heo

On September 10, the Ministry of Personnel Management posted the ‘National Civil Service Interview Dress Code Guidelines’ on the National Civil Service Recruitment System and will actively encourage interviewees to wear simple attire starting from October. The recommended outfits presented by the ministry include outerwear, shirts, knitwear, wide pants (slacks), cotton pants, and jeans. Footwear options now include not only loafers but also sneakers.

Conversely, hiking wear, athletic wear, shorts, and sleeveless tops were classified as styles that should not be worn. Pointed shoes (high heels) and indoor slippers are also discouraged as much as possible. Notably, this time the guidelines did not stop at prose descriptions; they also released illustrated outfit examples for male and female interviewees, reportedly generated using artificial intelligence (AI). The photos feature a variety of outfits combining jeans, denim skirts, slacks, knitwear, and shirts—moving away from the black suits and white shirts traditionally associated with civil service interviews. Shoes shown also include more comfortable options like sneakers and loafers.

The reason the ministry has presented such specific examples is that, despite years of guidance, the practice of wearing suits at interview sites has been difficult to change.

The ministry explained, “We recommend that interview attire be ‘simple clothing that does not interfere with demonstrating one’s abilities,’ but most candidates still wear suits to the interviews.”

The Ministry of Personnel Management posted 'National Civil Service Interview Dress Code Guidelines' on the National Civil Service Recruitment System and has actively encouraged applicants taking the interview exams from October onward to wear simple attire. National Civil Service Recruitment System

The ministry added that the prevalence of uniform suits can make the interview atmosphere feel unnatural, and that the noise from dress shoes may affect the operation of the tests. They stated, “We are once again emphasizing simple attire so that candidates can participate in interviews in a more comfortable and natural atmosphere, reducing their stress.” In fact, this is not the first time the government has recommended moving away from formal suits. For several years, the National Civil Service Interview Guidelines have discouraged rigid, formal dress codes and vouched for casual and no-tie attire. They have continuously informed candidates that what they wear will not affect the assessment.

Nevertheless, among jobseekers, the equation ‘interview = suit’ has not easily disappeared. Even when advised they may dress casually, jobseekers regularly post questions on online job boards such as, “Can I wear jeans?” or “Don’t I still have to wear a suit?” Even if neat casual attire is allowed, anxiety remains that one might stand out if everyone else wears a suit—or face possible disadvantages in evaluation. In essence, the guidance for ‘free attire’ has in some ways given candidates yet another source of concern.

Among job seekers, the notion that "interviews equal suits" still remains firmly entrenched. Even candidates advised to wear casual attire continue to post questions on online job boards asking, "Is it okay to wear jeans?" or "Shouldn't I still wear a suit?" Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang

This time, however, by providing explicit examples including jeans and sneakers, the government appears to be taking a more active role in alleviating these concerns. As the announcement spread on social media, a wide array of opinions emerged online. Some users responded positively, saying, “Now that they’ve shown jeans in the photos, I can finally wear them with peace of mind,” “Wearing a suit to interviews in the summer made commuting unbearable—this is a welcome change,” “What should matter is ability, not outfit,” and “This will lessen the burden of having to buy separate suits and shoes for interviews.”

Many people welcomed the reduction of financial burdens from having to purchase new suits and dress shoes for job interviews, as well as the ability to wear more comfortable clothing while waiting long periods during exams. On the other hand, some said the increased freedom makes choosing an outfit even more challenging. Opinions included, “With a suit you just wear the standard, but it’s harder to decide with free attire,” “I’m not sure where the line for what counts as ‘neat’ is,” and “I worry that each interviewer will have different standards.” Others said, “Even if jeans are permitted, most people will probably still wear suits on the actual interview day,” and “The first year, I think most people will opt for suits out of caution.” There were also concerns that some candidates might show up in excessively casual attire.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.