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If you watch enough historical K-dramas, you will eventually meet a young man whose entire household seems obsessed with one thing.
Studying.
Books are everywhere.
He spends years reading classical texts.
His family waits nervously for an exam.
And if he succeeds, everyone treats it as something much bigger than simply getting a good grade.
Why?
Because in Joseon Korea, an important examination could open a path toward government service.
That examination system was called:
과거 — gwageo.
Netflix’s upcoming The Scandal takes place in Joseon high society, a world where education, official position, family reputation, and social standing could be closely connected. Netflix describes the drama as a dangerous game of desire set around Bukchon, the heart of Joseon’s high society.
Understanding gwageo helps explain why studying and government careers matter so much in the world of historical K-dramas.
What Was the Gwageo?
Gwageo (과거, 科擧) was Korea’s state examination system used to select people for government service, especially during the Joseon Dynasty.
It was one of several routes into official life, but it became the most representative route to government office in Joseon. Korea’s National Institute of Korean History notes that officials could also enter through recommendation or hereditary privilege, but the gwageo was the best-known route.
So when a historical K-drama character says he is preparing for:
과거
he is not preparing for an ordinary school test.
He may be preparing for an examination that could affect:
his career,
his family’s prestige,
his social position,
and his future.
Why Did Joseon Men Study So Much?
This is one of the easiest historical K-drama mysteries to solve once you understand the gwageo.
Education was closely connected to government service.
Students studied:
classical Chinese,
Confucian texts,
history,
political thought,
and composition.
Government recruitment depended heavily on examinations, so educational institutions also played an important role in preparing potential officials. Historical education sources describe schools teaching Confucian texts, with Sungkyunkwan serving as the highest national educational institution.
That is why the image of a scholar surrounded by books appears again and again in Joseon dramas.
Books were not merely decoration.
They could represent a possible path toward public office.
Was the Gwageo Like a Modern College Entrance Exam?
Not exactly.
A modern college entrance exam usually determines where someone studies.
The gwageo was connected much more directly to government recruitment and official careers.
A closer modern comparison might be:
a highly competitive civil service examination
but even that does not capture everything.
Passing could bring enormous prestige.
And in elite families, success could affect how the entire household was viewed.
So when a K-drama family celebrates an exam result as if their future has changed, that reaction has a historical basis.
What Types of Gwageo Exams Were There?
The Joseon examination system was not just one single test.
Important categories included:
문과 — Mungwa
The literary or civil examination.
This was especially important for men seeking civil government office.
무과 — Mugwa
The military examination.
This selected military officials.
잡과 — Japgwa
Technical examinations.
These were connected with specialized fields such as translation, medicine, law, and other technical professions. Historical sources distinguish the literary, military, and technical examinations and note that different social groups tended to participate in them differently.
There were also preliminary examinations such as:
생원시 — Saengwonsi
and
진사시 — Jinsasi
which could serve as important educational and status milestones.
How Difficult Was the Gwageo?
Very.
The examination process could involve several stages.
Historical records describe different rounds and multiple forms of evaluation, including study of the classics, written composition, and policy questions.
For some major examinations, candidates might pass through stages such as:
초시 — chosi
initial examination
복시 — boksi
second examination
전시 — jeonsi
final examination
The exact structure could differ depending on the examination and period, but the main point is simple:
this was not a casual one-day test.
Preparation could take years.
What Did Candidates Actually Have to Do?
For civil examinations, knowledge alone was not enough.
Candidates had to demonstrate:
understanding of Confucian classics,
writing ability,
argumentation,
and knowledge relevant to government.
Historical descriptions of the examination process mention forms such as:
강경 — oral or recited examination of classical texts
제술 — composition
책문 — policy questions
depending on the stage and exam type.
This helps explain why historical dramas place so much emphasis on:
reading,
writing,
memorization,
and argument.
A future official was expected to be able to think and write within the intellectual framework of government.
What Happened If You Passed?
Passing could open a path toward an official career.
Successful candidates were recognized as exam passers and could be appointed to positions depending on their result and circumstances. Historical records refer to successful candidates in the major examinations as chulsin (출신) and explain that many were appointed to provisional or waiting positions before full office.
For families, success could also bring:
prestige,
connections,
career opportunities,
and stronger social recognition.
That is why passing the gwageo could become a family event rather than a purely individual achievement.
Did Passing Guarantee a Great Government Job?
No.
This is important.
Passing the examination did not automatically mean:
instant wealth,
a powerful ministerial position,
or lifelong success.
There were more successful candidates than there were prestigious offices.
Appointments depended on:
rank,
connections,
political circumstances,
vacancies,
and later career performance.
So historical K-dramas are right to treat examination success as important—but not necessarily the end of the struggle.
Could Anyone Take the Gwageo?
This requires nuance.
In theory, access varied by exam type and historical period.
Some examinations were more open than others.
But Joseon was not a modern equal-opportunity society.
Education itself required:
time,
resources,
teachers,
books,
and social support.
That meant elite families often had enormous advantages.
Historical education sources note that education was legally open more broadly in principle, but in practice much of higher education primarily served yangban sons. The literary examination was also dominated by elite applicants, while military and technical examinations drew somewhat different social groups.
So:
gwageo ≠ pure meritocracy
Education mattered.
But social background mattered too.
Why Was Family So Invested in One Person’s Exam?
Because success could strengthen much more than the candidate’s résumé.
Imagine a family whose son passes a prestigious examination.
That achievement could affect:
the family’s reputation,
marriage opportunities,
social networks,
and future generations.
This helps explain why K-drama parents sometimes pressure a son to study with an intensity that feels extreme to modern viewers.
To the family, the exam might represent:
status + government career + family future
all at once.
Gwageo and Sadaebu Culture
This is where our previous lesson connects directly.
The sadaebu were the educated scholar-official elite whose identity was closely connected to learning, Confucian values, and public service.
The gwageo gave that world one of its most important pathways.
So the relationship is easy to remember:
Sadaebu culture → learning
Learning → Gwageo
Gwageo → government service
If you haven't read our previous lesson, see:
What Does ‘Sadaebu’ Mean? The Scholar-Officials Behind Joseon K-Dramas
Was Gwageo Only About Memorizing Books?
No.
Memorization mattered, especially when mastering classical texts.
But higher examinations also tested written thinking.
Candidates might have to:
interpret classical ideas,
compose formal writing,
or respond to questions about government and policy.
So an ideal candidate needed more than memory.
He needed to demonstrate the kind of intellectual ability expected from someone who might later advise or serve the state.
What Did People Use to Take the Gwageo Exam?
This is one of the most interesting differences from modern exams.
Today, we use:
pens,
pencils,
keyboards,
and printed answer sheets.
A Joseon-era candidate wrote in an entirely different way.
Traditional writing involved:
붓 — But
Brush
먹 — Meok
Ink stick
벼루 — Byeoru
Inkstone
종이 — Jongi
Paper
The byeoru was used when preparing ink for brush writing.
So these objects were not simply beautiful props on a scholar’s desk.
They belonged to the actual writing culture behind studying, official documents, and written examinations.
Historical records also show that examinees prepared and submitted their own examination paper, called 시권 (sigwon), which contained identifying information that was separated before grading. Copies could then be prepared so graders would not identify candidates by handwriting.
That makes the physical act of writing an important part of understanding the gwageo world.
Experience Traditional Brush Writing
Curious what writing with a brush, ink stick, and inkstone actually feels like?
The calligraphy set below includes several of the traditional tools we've just learned:
brushes
an ink stick
an inkstone
and other brush-writing accessories.
The product is sold as a Chinese calligraphy set, not as a reproduction of a Korean gwageo examination kit.
However, brushes, ink sticks, inkstones, and paper were also fundamental tools of traditional Korean writing culture.
So it offers a hands-on way to experience the basic writing process behind the scholarly world you see in historical K-dramas.
Explore the Traditional Calligraphy Set on Amazon →
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Why Were Answers Copied Before Grading?
Here is a fascinating detail.
Historical records describe a grading system designed to reduce identification of candidates.
After the examination, the section containing identifying information could be separated.
In some cases, another official copied the answer in red ink, and graders evaluated the copy rather than the candidate’s original handwriting.
Why?
To make it harder for graders to recognize whose paper they were reading.
That sounds surprisingly modern.
It shows that fairness and anonymity were concerns even within a premodern examination system.
Did the Gwageo Happen Every Year?
There were both regular and special examinations.
One major regular examination was held on a three-year cycle, while special examinations could be held for important occasions or political circumstances.
That meant ambitious candidates did not necessarily have endless opportunities.
Timing mattered.
Failure could mean more years of study.
Which makes those anxious K-drama exam scenes much easier to understand.
Why Does Gwageo Appear So Often in Historical K-Dramas?
Because it brings several kinds of drama together.
Personal ambition
A character wants to change his future.
Family pressure
Parents expect success.
Social mobility
An exam could affect status and opportunity.
Romance
Marriage plans may depend on career prospects.
Politics
Future officials can become part of court factions.
Rivalry
Two scholars may compete for the same distinction.
In other words:
the gwageo is almost a perfect historical-drama plot device.
But it worked dramatically because the real institution already mattered enormously.
Gwageo vs. Modern Korean Exams
Modern South Korea is famous for intense educational competition.
It can be tempting to draw a straight line from the gwageo to today's exams.
There is certainly a long Korean cultural history of valuing education and examinations.
But they are not the same institution.
The gwageo selected officials for a premodern monarchy.
Modern exams serve completely different political, educational, and professional systems.
So it is better to recognize a historical connection around the importance of education and examination culture without pretending the systems are identical.
Related Korean Words
과거 — Gwageo
State examination system.
과거시험 — Gwageo siheom
Gwageo examination.
급제 — Geupje
To pass a major state examination.
문과 — Mungwa
Literary or civil examination.
무과 — Mugwa
Military examination.
잡과 — Japgwa
Technical examinations.
시권 — Sigwon
An examination answer sheet.
붓 — But
Writing brush.
먹 — Meok
Ink stick.
벼루 — Byeoru
Inkstone.
사대부 — Sadaebu
Scholar-official elite.
Quick Korean Tip 🇰🇷
The next time a scholar in a historical K-drama says he is preparing for:
과거
don't just think:
“He has an exam.”
Think:
“He may be competing for a path into government service.”
Then look at his desk.
If you see:
a brush,
ink,
an inkstone,
and paper,
you are seeing the real material world behind Joseon's examination culture.
FAQ
What does gwageo mean?
Gwageo (과거) was Korea’s state examination system used to recruit government officials, especially during the Joseon Dynasty.
Was the gwageo like a modern college exam?
No. The gwageo was primarily connected to entering government service rather than university admission.
What were the main types of gwageo?
Important categories included mungwa (civil/literary exam), mugwa (military exam), and japgwa (technical exams). There were also preliminary examinations such as saengwon and jinsa examinations.
Could common people take the gwageo?
Eligibility varied by examination and period. In practice, elite families had major advantages because advanced education required resources and social support.
What happened when someone passed the gwageo?
Passing could lead toward government service and bring significant prestige to the candidate and family, although it did not guarantee immediate appointment to a powerful position.
What did candidates write with?
Traditional brush writing used brushes, ink sticks, inkstones, and paper. Examination papers were handwritten and processed through formal grading procedures.
Why does the gwageo appear so often in K-dramas?
Because examination success could affect careers, family prestige, social position, marriage prospects, and political life, making it highly important in Joseon society.
Did graders know whose exam they were reading?
Systems existed to reduce identification. Historical accounts describe separating identifying information and sometimes copying responses before grading.
Keep Exploring Joseon Korea
Once you understand gwageo, one of the most common historical K-drama scenes suddenly makes much more sense.
A scholar bent over his books is not necessarily just:
“a student studying for a test.”
He may be preparing for:
a government career,
family expectations,
social prestige,
and a completely different future.
And the brush, ink stick, and inkstone beside him are not just beautiful historical decorations.
They are part of the world in which that examination actually happened.
If you want to understand the scholar-official culture behind the exam, continue with:
👉 What Does ‘Sadaebu’ Mean? The Scholar-Officials Behind Joseon K-Dramas
And visit the Learn Korean Hub for more Korean language and culture hidden inside the K-content you already love.
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