"Earning Allowance and Balancing Work-Life" Yakult Youth Driving Carts

Increasing Challenges for 'Yakult Ajumma' Among the 2030 Generation

Every morning, more young people are taking on the challenge of becoming so-called 'Yakult Ajumma,' delivering fresh dairy products throughout their neighborhoods. The ability to set their own working hours and the possibility of combining this job with other work are cited as attractive factors for these 'Yakult Youth.'

Seodambi hy Gongdeok Branch Fresh Manager is wearing work attire including a helmet and uniform, then heading to the delivery destination riding the electric vehicle 'Coco'.
[Photo by hy]

According to hy (formerly Korea Yakult) on the 2nd, the number of new 20-30-year-old Fresh Managers, which was only 22 in 2017, has now increased to 591. Fresh Managers wear apricot-colored uniforms and helmets while riding electric vehicles called 'Coco' equipped with refrigeration functions to cover their assigned areas. Among approximately 11,000 Fresh Managers nationwide, 80 are in their 20s and 511 are in their 30s, making up 5.4% of the total.

Just as the term 'Yakult Ajumma' became widespread, Fresh Managers were once strongly perceived as a domain for middle-aged women.

However, changes in job perceptions and employment environments after COVID-19 have brought about a turning point in this view. Fresh Managers have a low entry barrier as no educational background or experience is required. The only information needed on the application form is name, mobile phone number, age, and residence. The sole restriction is that only women can apply.

Fresh Managers register as individual business owners and earn about 20-25% of their monthly sales as income. Since the structure allows them to earn according to their work, many achieve high incomes.

Additionally, the ability to flexibly adjust working hours as desired, allowing them to combine this job with other work, self-development, childcare, or hobbies, is also a popular factor among young people who value work-life balance.

Seo Dambi (30), a Fresh Manager working at the Gongdeok branch, said in an interview with Asia Economy last June, "When I first started as a manager, my friends strongly discouraged me," adding, "(However) now I am so familiar with the job that I actively recommend it to acquaintances and those interested."

Recently, cases of women working as Fresh Managers while attending university or after retiring from other jobs have been introduced on YouTube and other platforms, gaining more attention.

Fresh Manager Kwak Mada (26), who identified herself as a university student, said on a YouTube channel, "I liked that I could exercise in the morning and freely use my afternoon or evening time," adding, "I have tried various part-time jobs, but this one allows me to manage my time well. The branch is not far, so I can go straight to school after work."

Regarding why she chose to become a Fresh Manager at a young age, Kwak said, "The biggest reason is livelihood. I have to support myself and also take care of my cat," adding, "In my early 20s, I used to drink every day and skip school, but now I am living diligently. I want to continue this job as long as I can."

Meanwhile, according to the 'August Employment Trends' announced by Statistics Korea last month, the economically inactive population in August was 16.163 million, down 83,000 from a year earlier. However, the number of people 'resting' increased by 28,000 (8.0%) in their 20s and 38,000 (15.1%) in their 30s.