The government will select 100 Grade 6 civil servants with outstanding performance and capabilities as candidates for early promotion to Grade 5.
The Ministry of Personnel Management (MPM) announced Monday that it has posted the "2026 Grade 5 Early Promotion Open Competitive Promotion Examination Implementation Plan" on the ministry's website (mpm.go.kr). The Grade 5 early promotion system is a program newly introduced this year to rapidly grant special promotions to outstanding civil servants based on performance and ability, fostering them as core government talent. This marks the first selection under the system.
Eligibility to apply is granted to Grade 6 civil servants regardless of the required tenure for promotion (two years), with no separate restrictions by job series. This year's selection totals 100 people, including 90 general policy talents and 10 advanced science and technology talents. General policy talents will be selected in nine divisions that take into account the characteristics of each ministry's work and job similarity.
The divisions are: ▲Economy and Finance ▲Taxation and Procurement ▲National Defense and Unification ▲Planning and Coordination ▲Science and Technology ▲Industry, Land, Environment and Energy ▲Life Resources ▲Education and Culture ▲Health, Welfare, Employment and Labor. Officials are assigned to divisions according to their affiliated ministry. For example, officials belonging to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Government Policy Coordination, the Fair Trade Commission, the Data Agency and the Financial Services Commission are assigned to the Economy and Finance division, which plans to select a total of 10 people.
For advanced science and technology talents, anyone with excellent capabilities and achievements in innovative industries such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors, or in advanced science and technology fields such as information protection, may apply regardless of job series.
Applications are accepted from candidates recommended by each ministry, who have been recognized for excellent job performance and capabilities as well as contributions to administrative development. Applications can be submitted individually via email from the 27th through the 6th of next month.
After a performance review (Sept. 1–2), competency evaluation (Sept. 29–Oct. 1) and interviews (Nov. 14–15), final successful candidates will be announced. Following completion of Grade 5 early promotion training early next year, they will be assigned to ministries and appointed to their promotions. In particular, the MPM plans to have those selected through early promotion work in key policy-driving departments so they can grow into core government talent.
Detailed information, including eligibility requirements, application submission methods, examination procedures and schedules, can be found in the notice posted on the ministry's website.
Choi Dong-seok, head of the MPM, said, "To realize a government that works well, opportunities must be guaranteed for capable working-level civil servants to quickly grow into managerial positions." He added, "We will continue to work to establish a personnel system centered on performance and ability."
