The Bar for Public Secondary-School Teacher Appointments in Seoul Has Risen

[Financial News] The bar for appointment as a public secondary-school teacher in Seoul has risen sharply. The average competition ratio increased from last year as hiring fell by more than 30% amid a decline in the school-age population.
On the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced the results of applications for the 2027 academic-year competitive examination to select candidates for appointment as secondary-school teachers, special education (secondary), health, nutrition, teacher librarian, and professional counseling teachers. A total of 5,207 people applied for 694 public-school teaching positions, for an average competition ratio of 7.50:1. This was higher than last year’s 5.50:1 and the highest level in the past three years.
The number of applicants fell by just 5.3%, from 5,500 last year to 5,207, while the number of positions fell by 30.6%, from 1,000 to 694, driving up the competition ratio.
The reduction in hiring was concentrated among subject teachers. The number of secondary-school subject-teacher positions fell by 316, or 35.1%, from 900 last year to 584 this year. That decrease exceeded the 306-position decline across all public schools. As a result, the competition ratio for subject teachers jumped from 4.89:1 to 7.17:1.
By contrast, the combined number of positions for special education, health, nutrition, teacher librarian, and professional counseling teachers increased by 10. Competition ratios in all major non-subject categories were lower than last year: 7.23:1 for special education, 10.17:1 for health, 7.66:1 for nutrition, and 11.30:1 for professional counseling.
Competition ratios for private-school teaching positions varied widely depending on the recruitment arrangement. At 32 school corporations using a joint application system for public and private schools, 2,792 people applied for 72 positions, for a ratio of 38.78:1. Of those applicants, 2,672 also applied to public schools. At 45 school corporations using a multiple-application system for private schools, including Seoul National University, a national university corporation, 2,294 people applied for 131 positions, for a ratio of 17.51:1. For national-school teaching positions, 63 people applied for eight positions, a ratio of 7.88:1.
The first-round examination for the 2027 appointment of secondary-school teachers in national, public, and private schools will be held on Saturday, November 28. Details, including exam venues, are scheduled to be posted on the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education website on Friday, November 20.

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter