🖌️ The 1st Gwageo Examination for Foreign Residents in Korea
Details
A thousand years of tradition. Closed in 1894. Open again for you.
For one extraordinary afternoon, foreign residents from around the world are invited to experience a modern recreation of the Gwageo, Korea’s historic royal civil-service examination.
At Sungkyunkwan, the royal Confucian academy founded in 1398, you will put on traditional scholar robes, sit in a historic courtyard and take up the brush. Choose a beginner or intermediate task and experience Korean history not as a spectator, but as a participant.
No Korean-language ability is required.
Event information
📅 Date: Monday, October 5, 2026
🚪 Entry: From 12:00 PM
🖌️ Examination: 2:00 PM
📍 Venue: Sungkyunkwan, Seoul - Bicheondang/Myeongnyundang area (exact entrance to be confirmed by the organizer)
💰 Registration fee: ₩5,000
👥 Capacity: Approximately 300 international participants
🌍 Eligibility: Foreign residents in Korea
What is included
- A traditional scholar robe for the examination
- A choice between beginner and intermediate tasks
- A gift for every participant
- Cultural experiences and food booths during the afternoon
- Cultural performances after the examination
Awards
🏆 33 winners
💰 ₩10,200,000 in total prizes
- 1st - Jangwon: 1 winner, laptop worth approximately ₩3,000,000
- 2nd - Bangan: 2 winners, ₩1,000,000 each
- 3rd - Tamhwa: 3 winners, ₩500,000 each
- 4th - Eulgwa: 10 winners, ₩200,000 each
- 5th - Byeonggwa: 17 winners, ₩100,000 each
Prizes are paid after statutory withholding.
When the brushes are set down
The celebration continues with Korean and international performances:
- The Scholar’s Spirit: brush performance, salpuri dance and scholar-robe fashion show
- World Rhythms: African percussion ensemble
- The Encounter: African percussion meets Korean samulnori
- Circle of Harmony: a ganggangsullae finale with the whole courtyard joining hands
This is a rare chance to enter one of Korea’s most important historic spaces, meet people from around the world and bring a centuries-old tradition back to life.
👉 Advance registration is required.
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