Korean Dictionary
How to say "Civil Service Exam (Joseon)" in Korean
“Civil Service Exam (Joseon)” in Korean is 과거제도 (pronounced "gwagejo").
과거제도
gwagejo
Usage & Context
The gwageo was the state examination system of the Joseon Dynasty. Passing it was the main route to becoming a government official. It heavily influenced Korea's culture of competitive academic study.
Example Sentence
조선 시대에는 과거제도를 통해 관리가 됐어요.
In the Joseon era, officials were selected through the civil service exam system.
How to use 과거제도 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Civil Service Exam (Joseon)” is 과거제도, romanized as gwagejo.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 과거제도.
Pronunciation Guide
For "과거" (gwageo), say "gwa" like in 'Gwangju' and "geo" like 'guh' in 'bug' but with a softer 'g'. "제도" (jedo) sounds like "jeh" in 'jet' and "do" like 'doe'. Put it together as "gwa-guh jeh-doe" with even stress.
More Example Sentences
Discussing Joseon history in a study group.
과거제도는 조선 시대 인재 등용의 핵심이었죠.
The civil service exam system was key to recruiting talented individuals during the Joseon Dynasty.
Talking about historical K-dramas.
드라마에서 과거 시험 보는 장면이 자주 나오잖아요.
Scenes of taking the civil service exam often appear in historical dramas, don't they?
Explaining the historical pressure on Joseon nobility.
과거제도 때문에 양반 자제들은 어릴 때부터 공부를 정말 열심히 했어요.
Because of the civil service exam system, sons of noble families studied extremely hard from a young age.
Cultural Context
The *gwageo* system was central to Joseon society, deeply influencing its social structure and educational values. Passing it was the ultimate goal for many men, leading to immense pressure and a highly competitive academic culture that some argue still resonates in Korea's modern education system. Historical K-dramas often depict the intense preparation, the drama of the exams, and the joy or despair of the results, making it a familiar concept to anyone watching Korean historical content.
Editorial note
We review entries like 과거제도 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
과거제도를 통과하다
To pass the civil service exam system
과거제도 폐지
Abolition of the civil service exam system
과거제도의 영향
Influence of the civil service exam system
Related Expressions
과거 시험
gwageo siheom
civil service exam (the test itself)
관료
gwallyo
government official, bureaucrat
양반
yangban
Joseon nobility
인재 등용
injae deungyong
recruitment of talented individuals
More Korean History Words
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