"If We Are as Diligent as Koreans, We Too Can Develop"...28-Year-Old Tanzanian Wins Top Prize in Foreigners' Civil Service Exam

Participants Wrote Answers in Hangul to On-the-Spot Essay Prompts
Civil Service Exam Reenacted in Traditional Yugeon and Dopo Attire

A young man from Tanzania achieved the top rank in a civil service examination for foreigners held at Sungkyunkwan in Seoul. He stated, "I would like to introduce Korea's 'ppalli-ppalli' (hurry-hurry) culture, high level of public safety, and culture of 'jeong' (a uniquely Korean concept of affection and connection) to my home country."

Eloy Eseko (28), originally from Tanzania, who passed the top-level examination at the "1st Joseon Foreigners' Gwageo Examination" held on October 5, 2026, at Sungkyunkwan in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is posing for a photo. Photo by Yonhap News.

About 200 Foreigners Wearing Yugeon Gathered at Myeongnyundang Hall

According to Yonhap News Agency on October 5, the "1st Foreign Residents in Korea Civil Service Examination" was held at Sungkyunkwan in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association. The event’s slogan was "Achieve your dreams and give yourself a gift."

More than 200 foreigners from 55 countries participated in the event, donning yugeon and dopo to reenact the civil service examination from the Joseon dynasty. A total of 12.5 million won in prize money was awarded to 33 winners, including the top scorer.

Participants are looking at exam questions during the 1st Korean Imperial Examination for Foreigners in Korea. Photo by Yonhap News.

The test questions released at the event required participants to either write the given slogan in Hangul or answer an essay question about "three things in Korea you want to introduce to your home country and the reasons." Answers submitted included not only kimchi, Hangul, and Hanbok, but also hiking culture, the senior-junior relationship, the culture of dining together, 24-hour convenience stores, entertainment TV programs, and other diverse aspects of Korean culture.

The Top Prize Goes to a 28-Year-Old from Tanzania..."More Nerve-Wracking Than TOPIK"

The highest score was achieved by Eloi Esseko (28) from Tanzania. Esseko was awarded the symbolic green aengsam, bokdu, and eohwahwa for the top prize winner, as well as a hongpae, which serves as a certificate of passing.

After the exam, he commented, "The Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK) gives you more time and space to take notes; this test was shorter and had no space for notes, so I was flustered for a moment, but I wrote my answers as they came to mind."

At the 1st Foreign Residents' Confucian Civil Service Exam held on the 5th by the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association Headquarters at Myeongnyundang, Sungkyunkwan in Jongno-gu, Seoul, participants are writing their answers dressed in yugeon (a traditional Confucian headgear) and dapo (traditional Confucian robes). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Esseko lived in Korea for eight years during his childhood, following his father who came here to study. In 2017, he returned to Korea to study at Incheon National University and has remained in Korea ever since.

"'Ppalli-Ppalli' Is What I Most Want to Share with Tanzania"

Of all the Korean cultural elements, Esseko said the one he most wants to share with people in Tanzania is the "ppalli-ppalli" culture. Citing Korea's rapid economic growth and its recovery from hardships such as the Korean War and the IMF crisis, he said Tanzania could also benefit from learning this culture of diligence and speed.

Esseko stated, "Korea also went through very difficult times in the past. I believe that if we, too, move diligently and adopt the 'ppalli-ppalli' mentality like Koreans, Tanzania could develop into an advanced nation in 80 years, if not 50."

His answer also included Korea's high level of public safety and the culture of "jeong." He explained that the society is so safe people can leave their cell phones and valuables unattended, and cited the uniquely Korean concept of "jeong," which is difficult to express precisely in English, as an impressive aspect of Korean culture.

Citizens are hurrying on their way to work at Gwanghwamun Intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yongjun Cho, The Asia Business Daily

Esseko also commented that Korea and Tanzania share similarities, such as respect for elders, and expressed his desire to promote Tanzania through Korean broadcasting and other channels in the future.

More Than 200 Participants from 55 Countries...Plans to Hold the Foreigners' Examination Regularly

This examination was organized as part of the Confucian Cultural Festival commemorating the 2,577th anniversary of Confucius' birth. The fact that it was held at Sungkyunkwan—where the "alseongsi," a royal examination traditionally held after the king’s visit to the Confucian shrine during the Joseon dynasty, took place—amplified its significance.

The Confucian Association commented, "The civil service examination system has transcended borders since ancient times," adding, "There are records that during the reign of Gwangjong of Goryeo, Shuang Ji, an official from Later Zhou in China, recommended the adoption of this system, and Choi Chiwon from Silla became renowned after ranking in a special civil service exam for foreigners in Tang China called the 'bingonggwa.'"

Lee Gwonjae, president of the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association Headquarters, who observed the event, remarked, "Even in Korea, there are growing concerns about declining literacy, but it was impressive to see foreign participants write such high-quality essays in Hangul. We plan to make the foreigners’ civil service examination a regular event going forward."

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