In the 6th year of King Sejo (1460), an unusually large number of people (1,800) passed the Military Service Exam (무과 武科) in Pyeongyang, suggesting that standards had been lowered that year. After that, people would make fun of soldiers who couldn’t ride a horse very well or shoot an arrow straight by saying that they must have taken the “1460 Exam” (경진무과 庚辰武科).
Using the 60-year-cycle calendar, 경진 (庚辰) refers to the year 1460, and 무과 (武科) refers to the Military Service Exam.
Today the expression is still used to make fun of soldiers and public officials who mess up.
Today the expression is still used to make fun of soldiers and public officials who mess up.
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