Seoul, South Korea – Choi Myung-gon works the cashier on the overnight shift at a convenience store in southern Seoul, ringing up purchases and stocking shelves. During the long lulls without customers, he tries to study.
Choi this year plans to sit South Korea’s civil service exam, a highly competitive test that thousands prepare for in the hope of landing stable government jobs. He hopes that a high score will be his ticket out of low-wage work, but often finds it difficult to focus on his books due to his irregular work schedule and long hours working on his feet.
