"It's Never Too Late in Life": 50-Year-Old Grade 9 Civil Servant Shares His First-Day-at-Work Experience

About 10 Years of Public Service Ahead
Online Users: "Hats Off to His Courage and Passion"

The story of a man born in 1976, who is 50 this year, has drawn attention online after he passed the 9th-grade civil service exam and began a new career. Although he entered public service later in life than most, online users have been cheering him on after he vowed to learn diligently with the mindset of a new employee.

On the 10th, commuters stood in a seatless car on Seoul Subway Line 4. Seoul Metro has launched a pilot program to operate one car without seats in response to complaints about overcrowding during rush hours. Priority seats for the elderly and pregnant women will remain. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

On Oct. 25, a post titled “I passed the 9th-grade exam at 50 and started my first day at work” appeared on social media and social networking services (SNS). The author, identified as A, said he had passed the 9th-grade civil service exam at age 50 after preparing for it by studying alone at a study cafe in his apartment complex. His achievement was not met with congratulations from everyone from the outset. He said that when he first shared the news that he had passed, he received many congratulatory messages but was hurt by some negative reactions and even deleted the post.

Hurt by malicious comments... “I’ll learn with the mindset of the youngest employee”

He also had considerable concerns ahead of his appointment. He worried about whether he would fit in among supervisors and colleagues younger than him, and whether he would struggle to learn new duties at a later age. But he could not give up an opportunity he had worked so hard to earn. A eventually decided to pursue a career in public service and is now in his second week on the job. He said he was adjusting more smoothly than he had expected since starting work. He added that the kind attitude of colleagues who had joined the service before him had been a great source of support.

“Fortunately, I’ve met some good senior colleagues and am adjusting without any major problems,” A said, expressing gratitude to colleagues who patiently explain things whenever he asks questions and are generous with their encouragement. He added, “Regardless of my age, I’m trying to learn diligently, even if slowly, with the mindset that I’m always the youngest.”

The story of a man born in 1976, who turns 50 this year, has drawn attention online after he passed the 9th-grade civil service exam and began a new career. The photo is unrelated to the specific content of the article. Photo by Cho Yongjun.

He also shared a message of encouragement for people like him who are considering taking the civil service exam later in life. A said that, considering the salary level, civil service benefits are fairly good, and noted that another advantage is that previous work experience may count toward salary steps if it meets certain criteria. “I’ll keep doing my best as a late-blooming civil service exam candidate adjusting to life as a civil servant,” he said, reaffirming his resolve to make a fresh start.

After his story became known, congratulations and words of encouragement poured in online. Users commented, “Congratulations and best wishes. I should find more strength in my own daily life, too,” “That’s really impressive,” “At 50, your life is just beginning,” and “I hope each day brings you little moments of happiness.”

One user who said they were also born in 1976 sent encouragement to someone their own age as he made a fresh start. Another user shared their experience of hiring an employee older than themselves, commenting that enthusiasm and one’s attitude toward work matter more than age. Some users offered more practical advice, noting that public service is not always smooth sailing and expressing hope that he would adapt well and hold on to his initial resolve through difficult moments.

No upper age limit for 9th-grade civil service exams... Retirement age is 60

A’s story has also drawn attention to age limits for civil service exams and the retirement age. Currently, applicants generally must be at least 18 to take the national 9th-grade open competitive civil service examination. Applicants for correctional and probation officer positions must be at least 20. The upper age limit for applicants, which existed in the past, was abolished in 2009. As a result, people in their 40s and 50s can also take the exam if they meet the eligibility requirements. Applicants must not be disqualified from appointment as civil servants, and additional requirements, such as residency restrictions, may apply to local government positions depending on the region.

The statutory retirement age for general civil servants is 60. Under Article 74 of the State Public Officials Act, unless another law provides otherwise, the retirement age is 60. Those who reach retirement age in the first half of the year retire on June 30, while those who reach it in the second half retire on Dec. 31. Accordingly, if the current system remains in place, A, who was appointed at age 50 this year, is expected to be able to serve in public office for about 10 years.

Questions have also arisen about civil service pensions. Under the current system, people are generally eligible for a retirement pension if they have served for at least 10 years. For newly appointed civil servants who retire in 2033 or later, the normal pension eligibility age is 65. Therefore, even if they retire at the mandatory retirement age of 60, they will not begin receiving their pension immediately. In addition, not all work experience gained before entering public service counts toward salary steps; whether, and to what extent, it is recognized depends on relevant regulations, including the connection to the job and the nature of the experience. Meanwhile, the government raised the starting pay for 9th-grade civil servants this year to an annual average of 34.28 million won, or a monthly average of 2.86 million won, including salary and allowances. This represents a 6.6% increase from the previous year and is intended to improve compensation for junior civil servants.

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