92-Year-Old Woman Passes Korean Literacy Exam, Setting Record

In a remarkable achievement, 박경자 (Park Kyung-ja), a 92-year-old resident of 부산 (Busan), has become the oldest person to pass the Korean literacy exam for elementary, middle, and high school students, administered by the 부산시교육청 (Busan Metropolitan Office of Education) in May 2025. This milestone not only marks her as the oldest successful candidate in Busan's history but also likely the oldest in the nation this year.

박경자 began her journey of learning Hangul five years ago, driven by a desire to overcome the regret of having dropped out of school in the third grade during the Japanese occupation of Korea. After marrying and moving to 흑산도 (Heuksando) where she worked as a 해녀 (female diver), she later relocated to 영도 (Yeongdo) in Busan. Throughout her life, she has held over 16 different jobs, including working in a shipyard.

Tragically, she lost both of her sons about 9 to 15 years ago, which added to her emotional burdens. However, attending a Hangul class at a local welfare center transformed her life. She expressed, "I can now read street signs, restaurant menus, and bus routes, which opened up a whole new world for me." Writing letters to her late sons has also helped her heal some of her lingering grief.

After initially failing the exam last year, 박경자 persevered and succeeded this time around. Despite suffering from degenerative arthritis, she enjoys visiting the welfare center to learn and socialize. She recently showcased her work titled '글이 너무 좋다' (The Writing is So Good) at a poetry exhibition, where she wrote, "I have found happiness now. I want to learn to write until I can walk. I love writing..." She shared that expressing her life experiences through poetry is her remaining dream.