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

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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
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites



Title in the Language of the Record

공공기록 (간찰, 통문, 기타), 900-2012

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. For translation help, see the section titled For Help Reading These Records.

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.

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?

Civil service examinations may contain the following information:

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

Collection Content

Sample Images

  • Compiled Biographies, Genealogies and Histories Examples
  • Korea Civil Service Examinations and Records of Officials and Employees, 1392-1900 DGS 005115016 19.jpg

    Example 1

  • Korea Civil Service Examinations and Records of Officials and Employees, 1392-1900 DGS 005241194 84.jpg

    Example 2

  • Korea Civil Service Examinations and Records of Officials and Employees, 1392-1900 DGS 005241200 146.jpg

    Example 3

How Do I Search This Collection?

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the 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.


Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

When searching:
As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor’s given name and surname, as well as some identifying information such as residence, age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times. Be sure to check the spelling of any names you research as there may be multiple spellings of the same name.

For Help Reading These Records

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

What Do I Do Next?

  • Use the birth date to calculate an approximate marriage date
  • 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
  • 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

Advanced Korean Genealogical Sources

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation

“한국 국가 공무원 시험 및 공무원의 기록, 1390-1900. ” Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 2017. Private collection of Song Man Oh, Jeollabuk-do.

Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

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