The 81st Korean History Proficiency Test (Haneunggeom), which evaluates understanding of Korean history and historical thinking skills, will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 10 a.m. The test, administered by the National Institute of Korean History, will be conducted only in the advanced type, with applications proceeding sequentially by region starting November 3. Test-takers preparing to apply should check their regional application schedule and certification level criteria in advance.

Regional Application Schedule

• Incheon and Gyeonggi: November 3, 10 a.m. to November 4, 9 a.m.
• Daejeon, Sejong, Gwangju, South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, South Jeolla, and North Jeolla: November 4, 10 a.m. to November 5, 9 a.m.
• Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang, and North Gyeongsang: November 5, 10 a.m. to November 6, 9 a.m.
• Seoul, Gangwon, and Jeju: November 6, 10 a.m. to November 6, noon
• Nationwide consolidated application: November 6, 1 p.m. to November 10, 5 p.m.

Separate periods during which applications cannot be submitted will be operated between regional application windows.

Precautions During Application

The National Institute of Korean History warned that application delays may occur due to increased website traffic. Access may be restricted in cases of abnormal connections or use of automated programs, and applications may be processed sequentially according to the order of arrival.

Key Schedule After Application

• Photo registration and change: November 11, 10 a.m. to November 28, 10 a.m. (test day)
• Test site change: November 11, 10 a.m. to November 20, 5 p.m.
• Canceled-seat application: November 11, 10 a.m. to November 13, 5 p.m.

Canceled-seat applications will be conducted nationwide only if remaining seats become available after the regular application period.

Certification Level Criteria and Question Types

The Haneunggeom is divided into advanced and basic levels, with a total of six certification levels. The advanced level ranges from Grade 1 to Grade 3, and the basic level from Grade 4 to Grade 6. In the advanced test, a score of 80 or above earns Grade 1, 70–79 earns Grade 2, and 60–69 earns Grade 3. In the basic test, 80 or above corresponds to Grade 4, 70–79 to Grade 5, and 60–69 to Grade 6.

Both tests consist of 50 questions with a perfect score of 100, with individual question points ranging from 1 to 3 points. The question formats differ: the advanced test uses a five-choice format, while the basic test uses a four-choice format.

Purpose of the Test

The Haneunggeom is operated to raise interest in Korean history and to evaluate understanding and thinking skills across the breadth of Korean history. It is administered by the state-run National Institute of Korean History and is characterized by being open to people of all backgrounds, without restriction to any particular age group or occupation. Its purpose is to assess the ability to understand changes across eras and relationships between events, going beyond simple memorization of historical facts, and the National Institute of Korean History also sees the test as a means of cultivating thinking skills and problem-solving abilities through voluntary historical study.

Test-takers should confirm the certification level that matches the purpose of the test, and distinguish the deadlines for each procedure, including application, photo registration, and test site changes. In particular, since application periods differ by region, checking schedules in advance is important.

[Details on test administration and applications should be confirmed based on official announcements from the National Institute of Korean History. Application availability may vary depending on region and seat availability. This article was written with the help of AI.]