Preparing for the South Korea Licensed Real Estate Agent Exam (공인중개사, Gongin Junggesa) requires more than just memorizing property laws and tax codes. Because the exam is heavily strictly timed, understanding exactly how many questions you will face and the time limit for each section is a critical component of your test-day strategy. Administered by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDKorea) under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, this rigorous exam demands peak time management.

Whether you are taking both parts of the exam on the same day (known as Dongcha) or splitting them across two years, this guide breaks down the exact structure, question counts, and time limits. For a broader overview of the licensing process, be sure to read our Complete Korea Licensed Real Estate Agent Exam Exam Guide.

Overall Exam Structure and Format

The Korean Licensed Real Estate Agent Exam is divided into two main sections: the First Examination (Part 1) and the Second Examination (Part 2). Historically, these are administered on the exact same day—typically the last Saturday of October.

Every single question on the exam is a 5-choice multiple-choice question (MCQ). There are no essay questions or fill-in-the-blanks. To pass, South Korea uses an absolute evaluation system: you must achieve an average score of 60 out of 100 points across all subjects in a given Part, with a minimum score of 40 points in every single subject. Falling below 40 in any subject results in an automatic failure (과락, Gwarak), regardless of how high your average is.

Because the margin for error is slim, understanding the Korea Agent Pass Rate Statistics and Difficulty is essential for setting realistic study goals.

First Examination (Part 1): Questions and Time Limit

The First Examination focuses on the foundational knowledge required to understand real estate transactions and property rights.

Subjects Covered

  • Real Estate Introduction / Principles (부동산학개론): 40 questions
  • Civil Law and Special Civil Act (민법 및 민사특별법): 40 questions

Time Limit and Question Count

You will face a total of 80 questions in Part 1. You are given exactly 100 minutes to complete this section. This block is administered in a single, uninterrupted morning session.

Pacing Formula: 100 minutes / 80 questions = 1.25 minutes (75 seconds) per question.

Second Examination (Part 2): Questions and Time Limit

The Second Examination dives deep into the regulatory, practical, and administrative laws governing real estate in South Korea. Because of its length, Part 2 is split into two separate testing sessions in the afternoon.

Session 1: Brokerage Act and Public Law

  • Licensed Real Estate Agent Act & Brokerage Practices (공인중개사��령 및 중개실무): 40 questions
  • Real Estate Public Law (부동산공법): 40 questions

Similar to Part 1, Session 1 of Part 2 contains 80 questions and gives you 100 minutes to complete them. The Brokerage Act section often covers practical applications, such as how to handle Korea Agent Contingencies in Purchase Agreements, while Public Law covers zoning and urban planning regulations.

Session 2: Disclosure Act and Tax Law

  • Real Estate Disclosure Act (부동산공시법): 24 questions (covers Cadastral Law and Registration Law)
  • Real Estate Tax Law (부동산세법): 16 questions

Session 2 contains a total of 40 questions combined into one test booklet. You are given 50 minutes to complete this final leg of the exam.

Visualizing the Exam Structure

To help you conceptualize the total volume of the exam, the chart below illustrates the distribution of questions across the five major subject testing blocks.

Number of Questions per Subject Block (200 Total)

Time Management Strategies and Scenarios

While 75 seconds per question might sound sufficient, the reality of the Korean real estate exam is much more demanding. The questions—particularly in Civil Law and Public Law—often feature lengthy, complex scenario-based prompts (갑, 을, 병 scenarios involving multiple parties).

The "OMR Card" Buffer

In South Korea, exams utilize an OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) card that you must physically bubble in using a specialized computer sign pen. You must account for the time it takes to transfer your answers from the test booklet to the OMR card.

  • Practical Scenario: For an 80-question block (100 minutes), you should reserve at least 10 minutes at the end strictly for bubbling and double-checking your OMR card.
  • Adjusted Pacing: This leaves you with 90 minutes for 80 questions, reducing your actual time-per-question to roughly 67 seconds.

Triage Strategy

Do not spend 3 minutes agonizing over a complex calculation question in Real Estate Principles. If a question requires complex math (e.g., calculating the present value of an investment or specific loan-to-value ratios), mark it, skip it, and return to it only after you have secured the easier theoretical points. Building this habit requires a structured study plan; we recommend utilizing a Korea Agent Study Schedule Planner to practice timed mock exams.

Standard Exam Day Schedule Breakdown

If you are taking both Part 1 and Part 2 on the same day, stamina is your biggest hurdle. Here is what a typical exam day timeline looks like (subject to minor annual adjustments by Q-Net):

  • 09:00 AM: All examinees must be seated.
  • 09:30 AM - 11:10 AM: Part 1 (100 minutes)
  • 11:10 AM - 13:00 PM: Lunch and Rest Break
  • 13:00 PM - 14:40 PM: Part 2, Session 1 (100 minutes)
  • 14:40 PM - 15:30 PM: Rest Break
  • 15:30 PM - 16:20 PM: Part 2, Session 2 (50 minutes)

You will be answering 200 complex legal and theoretical questions over 4 hours and 10 minutes of actual testing time, spread across a grueling 7-hour day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I take Part 1 and Part 2 on different days?

No, the exam is only held once a year, and both parts are administered on the same day. However, you are not required to register for both. Many candidates choose to study for and take only Part 1 in their first year, and then take Part 2 the following year.

What happens if I pass Part 2 but fail Part 1?

Under HRDKorea regulations, Part 1 is a prerequisite for Part 2. If you take both parts on the same day and fail Part 1 but pass Part 2, your Part 2 score is completely invalidated. You will have to retake both parts the following year.

What happens if I pass Part 1 but fail Part 2?

If you pass Part 1 but fail Part 2, you are granted an exemption for Part 1 for the following year only. You can return the next year to take only the Part 2 exam.

Are there any breaks allowed during a testing session?

No. Once a 100-minute or 50-minute session begins, you cannot leave the room to use the restroom without forfeiting your exam. You must manage your hydration and utilize the scheduled breaks between sessions.

What happens if I make a mistake on the OMR card?

If you make a bubbling error, you can raise your hand and ask the proctor for a replacement OMR card, or you can use correction tape (수정테이프) to fix the error. However, using correction tape is done at your own risk; if the machine misreads it, the error is your responsibility. Most candidates opt to use correction tape to save time.