Korea Civil Service Examinations and Records of Officials and Employees - FamilySearch Historical Records

North Korea
South Korea

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Korea, Civil Service Examinations and Records of Officials and Employees, 1390-1900
CID2316009
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Korea
Flag of Korea (1899).jpg
Flag of the Korean Empire, 1897-1910
LOC Korea in Asia map.jpg
Record Description
Record Type: Civil Service
Collection years: 1390-1900
Languages: Korean
Title in the Language: 공공기록 (간찰, 통문, 기타), 900-2012
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What is in This Collection?

This collection will include records from Jeollabuk-do and Jeonju-si, South Korea. The records are in Korean and Chinese, dated from 1390 to 1900, and include Korean civil service examinations from the Joseon Dynasty, as well as records of officials and employees.

The civil service examinations under the Joseon dynasty were known as the gwageo. These difficult tests were central to most education during the Joseon dynasty and assessed the applicant’s knowledge of Chinese classics and, occasionally, technical skills. Passing the tests qualified individuals to enter into the higher governmental or aristocratic positions.

Reading These Records

These records are in Korean and Chinese. For help with reading these records see the following resources:

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Korea, Civil Service Examinations and Records of Officials and Employees, 1390-1900.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records: Civil service examinations

  • Name of Employee
  • Date and Place of Birth
  • Names of Parents
  • Name of Spouse
  • Residence

Collection Content

Sample Images

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of the person you are looking for
  • Approximate age
  • Approximate location of residence

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:
  1. Select Country (국가), Province (도, 시), City or County (시,군)
  2. Select 제명 (Title), 년 (Year) , and 권 (Volume) and/or 페이지 (Page) to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Use the birth date to calculate an approximate marriage date
  • Use the residence to search for other records in the area
  • Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

  • When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
  • Check for variant spellings of the names

Research Helps

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Korea.

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Citing This Collection

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Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.
Image Citation:
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