8 Successful Candidates out of 43 Nationwide (18.6% Share), Highest Number in Korea

Unrivaled Track Record with Five Consecutive Years of Top Results (2014–2018) and No. 1 Ranking Again in 2020

Successful Candidates Across Regions Including Gyeongbuk, Chungnam, and Ulsan…Three Regional Top Scorers Produced 

10 Successful Candidates This Year Including Korean Language and Social Studies

[March 17, 2026]

<Faculty members and successful candidates from the Department of Chinese Classical Education at Yeungnam University>

 The Department of Chinese Classical Education at Yeungnam University (YU) ranked No. 1 nationwide in the number of successful candidates in the 2026 Secondary School Teacher Recruitment Examination.The department previously produced the highest number of successful candidates nationwide for five consecutive years from 2014 to 2018, and also ranked No. 1 again in 2020, demonstrating unrivaled performance among Chinese classical education and Chinese literature departments across Korea.

   In the 2026 examination, a total of 43 candidates were selected across eight regions nationwide, and YU produced eight successful candidates across six regions, excluding Busan and Jeonnam, achieving nationwide recognition. Notably, the top-ranked candidates in Chungnam (LIM Su-yeon), Ulsan (KIM Ye-jin), and Gyeongbuk (JEON Min-ji) were all graduates of YU’s Department of Chinese Classical Education. In the Daegu–Gyeongbuk region, which recorded a highly competitive ratio of 14:1, YU graduates achieved both first and second place (including KWAK Da-hyun). In addition to the Chinese classical subject, students who pursued double majors and took exams in other subjects also achieved strong results.One candidate each passed in Korean language and social studies, bringing the total number of newly appointed teachers from the department to 10 in this year’s examination. These results once again demonstrate that the department is a leading institution for training secondary school teachers, showing strength not only in its primary major field but also across other subjects.

 KANG Myeong-ju, a graduate of YU’s Department of Chinese Classical Education who passed this year’s exam, stated, “It is even more meaningful to share this achievement with my peers, juniors, and seniors who have worked hard together. I was able to achieve this result thanks to the guidance of my professors and the encouragement of my seniors.” She added, “I hope to give back the support I have received and contribute to the continued development of YU’s Department of Chinese Classical Education as a central pillar of Chinese classical education in Korea.”

   The department’s ability to maintain its top national ranking is largely attributed to its rigorous academic management and a strong culture that fosters close relationships among students and faculty. Faculty members and students regularly engage in open and sincere communication, strengthening unity and cohesion.Distinctive extracurricular programs—such as calligraphy exhibitions, joint faculty-student hiking activities, growth talks, and professor-led intensive major courses during vacations—have further widened the gap with other universities.

A strong culture of peer mentorship—where seniors guide juniors—has also taken root. Alumni who have successfully become teachers across the country actively support current students preparing for the recruitment exam, contributing to an impressive 80% pass rate in the second-stage examination. Within this culture of mutual respect and consideration, students see each other not only as competitors but also as partners in growth. For example, four classmates from the Class of 2019 formed a study group together, and all four successfully passed the exam this year, including achieving top ranks in Ulsan and Chungnam.

 KIM Bong-nam, Head of the Department, stated, “I hope that my proud students, who have finally achieved their dreams through great passion and effort, will now aspire to become true educators whom their students can trust and follow. This is just the beginning.” He added, “I would also like to extend my sincere encouragement and applause to graduates who did not pass this time and to all candidates nationwide preparing for the Chinese classical teacher recruitment examination.”