The youngest candidate born in 2008, the oldest in 1968, with a 40-year age gap -
Gyeongsangbuk-do announced the final list of 1,698 successful candidates for the "2026 1st Gyeongsangbuk-do Open Competitive Examination for Local Public Officials" on September 22 through the official Gyeongsangbuk-do website.

This examination process proceeded through a written test, personality and aptitude tests, an interview, and an additional (in-depth) interview. The final successful candidates were selected through rigorous screening out of 1,994 written test passers.

By recruitment sector, selections were made across 30 job categories in 20 fields, including 724 individuals for Grade 9 Administration. Through separate recruitment quotas, a total of 42 candidates passed, including 22 individuals with disabilities and 20 from low-income households.

The average age of the final successful candidates is 30. By age group, those under 20 accounted for 5 candidates, ages 20–29 numbered 970 (57.1%), ages 30–39 stood at 569 (33.5%), ages 40–49 reached 131 (7..7%), and those aged 50 and older accounted for 23 (1.4%). While candidates in their 20s and 30s made up a high proportion, successful candidates also emerged from middle-aged and older demographics in their 40s and above, continuing the trend of public service entry across diverse age groups.

The youngest successful candidate is an 18-year-old (born in 2008) male who applied for Grade 9 Administration in Yeongju, while the oldest successful candidate is a 58-year-old (born in 1968) female who applied for Grade 9 Social Welfare in Pohang.

By gender, female candidates accounted for 946 (55.7%) and male candidates for 752 (44.3%). This is 4.7% higher than the average female successful candidate ratio of 51% over the past five years. Additional successful candidates under the gender equality hiring target system included 13 males, which is 7 more than females.

After completing their registration as appointment candidates, the final successful candidates will participate in a new hire training course. Upon completing the training, they will be assigned to affiliated organizations such as the provincial government and cities and counties to take their first steps into public service.

Individuals can check their personal pass/fail status starting at 18:00 on September 21 in the examination information section of the Gyeongsangbuk-do website (www.gb.go.kr).

Kim Sang-chul, head of the Safety and Administration Bureau at Gyeongsangbuk-do, stated, "I sincerely congratulate the examinees who have spent a long time preparing for the exam and achieved the fruit of final acceptance," adding, "I hope you will grow into trustworthy public officials for the residents with a sense of pride and mission that you are responsible for the future of Gyeongsangbuk-do."

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