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Joseon Civil Service Examination Reform

Type Event Region Asia Time 1406

In 1406, under King Taejong, the Joseon dynasty reformed its civil service examination (gwageo) system, adjusting the content and frequency of the ci…

Timeline

  1. 1406Hanyang · South KoreaThe court adjusted the schedule and scope of the civil examination (saengwon and jinshi), emphasizing Confucian classics and statecraft essays, reducing the old system's overemphasis on literary composition, and making the examinations better serve the needs of state governance.
  2. 1406Hanyang · South KoreaThe military examination (martial arts and archery) and miscellaneous examinations (interpreters, physicians, etc.) were reformed in parallel, with quotas and eligibility restrictions clarified for each subject, and stronger supervision of examination halls to prevent lobbying by powerful families and ensure fairness.

Sources