"Even One Day Sooner"... Anxious Youth Bet Their Lives on 380,000 Won a Month [Pocket Talk]

Annual Education Costs for Job Seekers Reach 4.55 Million Won
Focus on Certifications and Language Scores Amid Employment Slump
Low Employment Rates and Financial Burden Create a Double Hardship

Editor's NoteWe are living in a time when a single serving of pork belly costs 20,000 won and a bowl of jajangmyeon is 7,500 won. The Consumer Price Index in 2024 reached 114.18 (2020=100), and in 2025, the burden on consumers’ grocery baskets has grown further due to continued high inflation. Through the "Pocket Talk" (Week+Money+Talk) series, we aim to share stories about consumption that are closely tied to our wallets in the face of ever-changing prices.

Lee Jini, a 27-year-old job seeker, decided not to return to her hometown during this year's Chuseok holiday. Having prepared for a public enterprise job for a year, she said, "The competition is so fierce that I felt I had to pass as soon as possible, so I gave up my holiday," adding, "I plan to focus on preparing my self-introduction and managing my qualifications."

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According to a recent survey by the career platform Saramin of 2,357 adults, 78.1% of respondents said they would engage in job-seeking activities during the Chuseok holiday. As job requirements become increasingly demanding and the burden of private education expenses grows, young people are facing greater concerns.

"You Never Know When a Posting Will Appear"... 8 Out of 10 Continue Job Hunting Even During Holidays

Job seekers visiting the Gangnam-gu Employment Fair held last June at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are checking the job posting board. Photo by Yoon Dongju

The proportion of respondents who said they would prepare for employment during the Chuseok holiday increased by 4.1 percentage points compared to last year. The reasons for continuing job hunting even during the holiday were: ▲Because it is impossible to know when postings will appear due to rolling recruitment (43.6%, multiple responses allowed), ▲Because there are few job postings and employment is difficult (38.3%), ▲Because the long holiday provides time to focus (30.9%), and ▲Because they cannot relax comfortably (25.8%).

The fact that young people devote themselves to job preparation even during holidays is closely linked to the harsh employment reality. The prolonged economic downturn, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI), and companies’ preference for experienced workers have all combined to make it increasingly difficult for young people to find jobs. According to employment trends released by Statistics Korea last month, the number of employed people in August was 28,967,000, an increase of 166,000 from a year earlier. However, among those aged 15 to 29, the number decreased by 219,000. Notably, the number of people in their 30s who are neither working nor seeking jobs reached 328,000 in August, the highest figure ever recorded for that month.

4 Out of 10 Job Seekers "Receive Education for Employment"

As the job market becomes more challenging, the importance of education to build qualifications has grown, increasing the financial burden on job seekers. According to a survey by JobKorea Content LAB of 485 job seekers, 42.9% reported having experience with private education for employment. This is more than a 10 percentage point increase from 2021 (31.6%). Those who received private education for employment spent an average of 380,000 won per month, totaling about 4.55 million won annually. This is more than double the 2.18 million won spent four years ago.

By category, the most common type of private education was ▲Obtaining major-related certifications (64.9%, multiple responses allowed), followed by ▲English test scores and exam fees (56.7%), ▲Certifications in non-major fields (37%), and ▲Acquiring IT/computer skills (32.7%).

Additionally, the emphasis on overseas experience, such as language training, is further increasing the financial burden on job seekers. The cost of language study abroad varies depending on the country, duration, and type of accommodation, but usually amounts to several million won. According to a language study abroad agency, the cost for a single room for one month is 3.12 million won in the Philippines, 5.92 million won in Malta, 6.86 million won in the United Kingdom, and 6.32 million won in Canada.

Given these circumstances, a significant number of young people are giving up on job hunting altogether and turning to entrepreneurship. According to the "Millennials & Gen Z Business Owner Trend Report" released by Shinhan Card last year, young self-employed business owners in their 20s and 30s accounted for 17.8% of the total. By industry, the proportion working in food service, which has relatively low entry barriers, was 51.7% for those in their 20s and 41.5% for those in their 30s, higher than in other sectors.

Meanwhile, on September 22, the government announced its "Youth Policy Direction of the People’s Sovereignty Government," pledging to strengthen youth support measures. Key points include ▲guaranteeing opportunities for jobs and asset formation, ▲supporting basic living throughout the life cycle, and ▲expanding substantial policy participation. Yoon Changryul, Minister of Government Policy Coordination, said, "We will stand by young people so that they can take their first steps stably, become self-reliant through their own efforts, and grow confidently as the main agents of policy."