200 Essential Hanja for Civil Service
Most tested Hanja in Korean civil service exams, sorted by difficulty.
Level 8 Basic Hanja (Most Tested)
5 items
國(나라 국)
國家, 國民Most basic country-related character
Used in nation, citizen, international. Most tested character.
民(백성 민)
國民, 市民Basic character meaning people/citizen
Used in citizen, democracy, ethnicity. Essential for public administration.
法(법 법)
法律, 司法Character meaning law/legislation
Used in legislation, judiciary, constitution. Core for law subjects.
政(정사 정)
政治, 行政Character meaning politics/governance
Politics, administration, policy, government. Essential for political science.
公(공변될 공)
公務, 公正Character meaning public/fair
Civil servant, fairness, public, official. The "civil" in civil servant.
Level 7 Essential Idioms
5 items
선공후사
先公後私Public duty before private interest
The quintessential civil servant attitude. Frequently asked in interviews.
정명순언
正名順言Correct names lead to proper speech
Emphasizes accuracy in administrative terminology.
청렴결백
清廉潔白Clean and free from selfishness
Expresses integrity obligation. Core ethics concept.
법고창신
法古創新Follow tradition while creating innovation
Principle of administrative reform. Balance of tradition and innovation.
대의명분
大義名分Great cause and rightful duty
Explaining policy legitimacy. Also frequently tested in Korean history.
Level 5 Advanced (Higher Civil Service)
5 items
統(거느릴 통)
統治, 大統領To govern, to lead
Governance, president, unification. Essential for senior positions.
憲(법 헌)
憲法, 立憲Constitution, fundamental law
Constitution, constitutionalism. Core for constitutional law.
裁(마를 재)
裁判, 制裁To judge, to decide
Trial, sanction, discretion. Important in both judicial and administrative fields.
경세제민
經世濟民Govern the world and save the people
Origin of the word "economy" in Korean. Ultimate purpose of public service.
격물치지
格物致知Investigate things to extend knowledge
Philosophical foundation of empirical administrative research.
