Unlike Kokushi who was appointed from the central government officials with a fixed term, Gunji was appointed from local Gozoku including old Kuninomiyatsuko by heredity and was a lifelong official without a fixed term.
中央の官人が任期制で派遣されていた国司と異なり、郡司は、旧国造などの地方豪族が世襲的に任命され、任期のない終身官であった。