Jeon Han-gil, an instructor who enjoyed unparalleled prominence in South Korea's civil service Korean history exam, abruptly announced his retirement on May 14, 2025. His retirement announcement delivered a shock and disappointment to countless test-takers. Today, we will delve into his tumultuous career as an instructor, the background behind his retirement, and his future plans.
Jeon Han-gil lectured on Korean history at Mega Civil Service, boasting over 350,000 members in his Naver Cafe, making him a veritable representative of Korean history instruction for civil service exams. He produced countless successful candidates and held an overwhelming advantage in online student numbers and textbook sales, earning him the title of 'the synonym for Korean history in civil service exams'.
He accumulated broad experience lecturing at various educational institutions including Megastudy (for the CSAT), EBS (Educational Broadcasting System), and Willbes Goshi Academy. In 2004, he even ranked first among all EBS instructors in student satisfaction. His lectures were praised for being easy and entertaining, significantly aiding students' Korean history studies.
Recently, Jeon Han-gil found himself at the center of controversy due to his continued political statements supporting former President Yoon Seok-yeol. Some students protested to his company, questioning his suitability as a Korean history instructor. This placed significant pressure on the company. Ultimately, he stated that he decided to retire considering the pressure from students and the company's discomfort.
The decreasing number of civil service hires and the trend towards replacing the Korean history subject with the Korean Proficiency Test likely influenced his retirement decision. Indeed, the Korean history subject was removed from the Grade 7 civil service exam, and the Korean Proficiency Test replaced it in police and fire service exams as well as clerical exams. These changes caused a slump in the Korean history market for civil service exams, likely resulting in a decrease in his income as an instructor.
Some speculated that his retirement would lead to him entering politics, but he denied this, stating that he has no intention of entering the political arena. However, he stated he would continue his activities through his 'Jeon Han-gil News' and his YouTube channel.
Mega Civil Service announced that, due to Jeon Han-gil's retirement, no new courses will be produced for the 2025 exam, but existing courses will be accessible until October 31, 2026. They also stated they plan to provide replacement courses to minimize student inconvenience.
Jeon Han-gil, who worked as a Korean history instructor for 26 years, helping countless students succeed, leaves behind much regret with his sudden retirement. However, he is expected to continue communicating with the public through various activities. Although his presence on the lecture stage is gone, his achievements and influence will be remembered for a long time.
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