For some, it's a last resort after retirement and business closure, and for the younger generation, it's a starting point for their future.

The real estate agent exam begins without fail every fall. This year, the 36th test site showed unwavering enthusiasm with over 160,000 challengers flocking to the test site. Some, having endured the frustration of early retirement and the closure of their self-employed businesses, take on this test as a last resort to get back on their feet. Others choose this path, leaving the organization behind to live their lives independently. The real estate agent exam has become more than just a means of livelihood; it has become a new starting point where generations dreaming of a comeback and those seeking to find their own paths come together.

From "Bokdeukbang" to Professional... The Changing Status of the Brokerage Industry

Real estate agents are no longer simply considered a post-retirement "livelihood job." Moving away from the image of the "old man in the fortune teller's shop," they are evolving into comprehensive asset consultants equipped with extensive knowledge of law, taxation, finance, and development. As real estate transaction structures become more complex, brokers are moving beyond simply connecting properties to becoming professionals who design clients' assets and plan for their futures. Large brokerage firms handling commercial buildings, ultra-luxury homes, and development projects are also rapidly expanding.

Now, the industry standard is shifting from a "one-office brokerage" to a "team-based professional organization." The economic downturn and mass unemployment following the COVID-19 pandemic have forced countless people into the testing grounds, but within that, the brokerage industry has actually grown to new heights.

People who start over after retirement

In the testing room, people of all ages, from those in their 20s to those in their 70s and 80s, sit side by side. From office workers nearing retirement, to baby boomers seeking a second career, to housewives returning to society after raising their children… Age is no longer a barrier. People who have been laid off or whose businesses have collapsed are knocking on the doors of real estate brokerage firms. Many, after waking up to the thought of "what to do" after early or honorable retirement, are using their old management acumen to run their own brokerage firms.

Mr. and Mrs. B, who ran an academy with their husband, took the real estate agent exam together after the business closed due to the impact of COVID-19 and recently opened an office in Songpa-gu. The applicants are truly diverse. From middle-aged people who want to take charge of the second half of their lives after retirement to the MZ generation who aspire to "live their lives without being controlled by anyone," the challenge transcends generations and backgrounds.

According to the 36th exam registration status for 2025, 34,532 applicants were in their 40s, 27,600 in their 50s, and 8,177 in their 60s and older (based on the first round). Successful applicants for the 35th exam also ranged widely in age from their teens to their 80s. While the number of applicants has decreased from the 200,000s to the 160,000s, the change within this exam is qualitative. The real estate agent exam is no longer simply a means of livelihood; it's a venue where the desire to "create my own career" converges.The generational expansion of the real estate agent exam isn't simply a re-employment trend. With a large influx of middle-aged and older workers with accumulated expertise, the brokerage industry is evolving beyond a "post-retirement alternative" to a "lifelong career."

As the real estate market undergoes structural change, the era of professional brokers based on experience and trust is dawning. For some, it is a chance to get back on track, and for others, it is a starting point to live independently. There are people who, for their own reasons, prepare for arduous exams and then re-enter the world. If you find yourself at a dead end in life, don't despair. Take on the challenge.

You don't have to be a licensed real estate agent. The moment you take a step toward finding something worth pursuing, previously closed paths can open up again.