Seoul to Recruit 694 Public Secondary Teachers, Down 30.6% in One Year

[Financial News] SMOE said on the 30th that it will recruit 694 public secondary, special education, health, nutrition, librarian, and specialized counseling teachers for the 2027 school year. The figure is 36 higher than the number announced in advance in August. However, it is 306 fewer than the 1,000 recruited the previous year, representing a 30.6% decline. The number of positions, which had risen since the 2024 school year, has now begun to fall.
The decline was concentrated among regular secondary teachers. The number of secondary teacher positions fell by 316, from 900 to 584. Special education (secondary) and health positions each decreased by one, while nutrition positions rose by six and librarian and specialized counseling positions each increased by three.
SMOE determined the number of positions after taking changes in teacher staffing levels, mandatory and voluntary retirements, and leaves of absence into account. However, the figure is understood to have been influenced by the ongoing adjustment of staffing levels in response to the declining school-age population.
Three national schools entrusted SMOE with recruiting a total of 10 teachers. Seoul National School for the Deaf and Hanguk Ujin School will each recruit four special education (secondary) teachers, while Seoul National University Middle School will recruit two Korean language teachers. In the private-school sector, 76 school foundations representing 109 schools will entrust the first-round examination to SMOE, with a total of 201 positions to be filled. Examinations will also be held in management and finance and construction, two subjects not included in public-school recruitment. Each foundation will determine its final successful candidates after administering a second-round examination.
SMOE has newly listed smart glasses among the items prohibited at examination sites. Although electronic devices are generally prohibited, the measure is intended to prevent cheating involving the latest information and communications devices.
Applications will be accepted through the online teacher recruitment system for five days, from October 12 to 16. The first-round examination will be held on November 28, and the results will be announced on December 29. The second-round examination will begin on January 14 next year with practical and experimental assessments for the relevant subjects, followed by teaching demonstrations and in-depth interviews on January 20 and 21. Final successful candidates will be announced on February 5 next year. 

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter