Is It Okay to Quit School... Teens Watching 'Dropout YouTubers'

Dropping Out Emerges as Another Option
Changing Perspectives Among Youth
YouTubers Sharing Dropout Experiences Gain Popularity

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of high school students choosing to drop out has steadily increased. On platforms like YouTube, content sharing the experiences and reviews of students who study independently after dropping out is gaining popularity. Recently, there is an analysis that among teenagers, the perspective of viewing dropping out not as 'giving up on academics' but as another option for career choice is spreading.

On the 13th, it was easy to find videos of so-called 'dropout YouTubers' on YouTube. These are individuals who left their high schools and are either studying on their own or exploring other career paths.

In the past, dropouts were often stigmatized as school maladjusted or troublemakers. Although such views still exist, these students see dropping out not as giving up on academics but as 'another option for career choice.'

One YouTuber said, "With my current grades, it seems difficult to enter an 'In-Seoul university,' so I left school to look for other career paths," adding, "YouTube videos were very helpful while I was considering dropping out."

Videos containing reviews, experiences, and tips from dropout YouTubers
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The backgrounds of students choosing to drop out are diverse. Some leave school because they have no interest in academics, while others, who had high grades at school, turn away to pursue what they truly want to do.

The perspective of teenagers toward dropping out has also reportedly changed significantly. Some students even hold so-called 'dropout parties' for classmates who have decided to drop out.

In fact, the dropout rate in Korea continues to rise. According to the '2023 Basic Education Statistics' released by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Educational Development Institute, the dropout rate among elementary, middle, and high school students last year was 1.0% (52,981 students), an increase of 0.2 percentage points (10,226 students) compared to the previous year.

High school. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article.

Especially among high school students, the dropout rate has been steadily increasing since COVID-19. The dropout rate was 1.1% in 2020, rising to 1.5% in 2021, and 1.9% in 2022, marking three consecutive years of increase.

According to a survey released by Jongno Academy in August, the number of students who dropped out of general high schools nationwide across 17 cities and provinces was 15,520 this year, nearly 6,000 more than the 9,504 students in 2021, two years ago.

However, some express concerns that students should not decide to drop out too easily. There are many limitations for youths outside the public education system to develop their abilities independently.

Social prejudice and discriminatory views experienced by out-of-school youths cannot be ignored. According to the 'Out-of-School Youth Survey' published by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in 2018, 4 out of 10 students (39.5%) who dropped out cited 'people's preconceptions, prejudice, and disregard' as the biggest difficulty they faced after leaving school.