"Vanished from Society After Leaving School"... Harsh Stigma Beyond the School Gates [Invisible Children] ①

Children Paying Adult Fares to Hide Their Status
Voluntary "Invisible People" Created by Prejudice
Out-of-School Youth Support Infrastructure Varies Widely

The monotonous mechanical beep from the bus card reader brings a sense of relief to 17-year-old high school girl Choi. There is only one reason she gives up the youth fare benefit and pays the adult fare: she fears the stares and potential comments like, "Why aren't you in school?" that might follow when the machine announces, "Youth passenger." However, the real reason Choi felt the need to hide is different. The moment young people step outside the school system, society turns them into 'invisible people.'

Out-of-School Youth Support Center (Kkumdream). Seoul Jung-gu Youth Support Center Website.

For A, a 19-year-old living in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, whom The Asia Business Daily met on January 23, dropping out was a matter of survival. As a sexual minority, he endured hateful remarks from teachers such as "homosexuality is harmful" and endured ridicule from peers since middle school. "Even after entering high school, the prejudice continued," he shared. "I felt there was no place for me at school, so I had no choice but to leave in order to survive."

Jang Haeun, 18, from Gwangju, chose not to attend high school in pursuit of her 'dream.' She wanted to study coding professionally, but her hopes of attending a relevant high school were dashed, compounded by the exhaustion of social relationships. For Jang, the world outside of school was a space of opportunity where she could fully focus on coding. Choi, 17, living in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, put down her pen in the first semester of her second year due to the long commute and health issues. Suffering from lack of sleep and declining grades because of the daily 8-kilometer round-trip to school, she made the decision to drop out at her parents' suggestion to prepare for the college entrance exam instead.

The problem is that the moment these youths choose to leave school, they are excluded from the social safety net. Once their student status disappears, they are overwhelmed by a lack of belonging and social prejudice. A said, "Without an affiliation, I feel intimidated every time I have to introduce myself." He added, "When I run into neighbors during the day, I lie and say I left school early, and I haven't told my grandmother about dropping out at all," expressing his bitterness. Choi confessed, "I am always nervous that people might stare when I use public transportation during the day on weekdays," and added, "I already feel anxious at the thought that my future spouse or children might be ashamed if they found out I dropped out."

The severing of relationships deepens their sense of isolation. Jang lamented, "In school, whether you like it or not, you learn social skills by interacting with classmates, but outside of school, there is virtually no way to meet peers." She felt out of place at alternative schools, and was hesitant to join open chat rooms due to the fear hidden behind anonymity. Their common plea: "Once you leave school, you feel like an outsider erased from society."

Although there is a public support system called the Out-of-School Youth Support Center (Kkumdream), the reality experienced by the youths is far removed from this. A pointed out, "There are many different reasons why kids leave school, so the support they need varies, but the center's programs are all focused on self-reliance or employment. There were no psychological comfort programs for those who are emotionally hurt." Jang also expressed regret, saying, "What isolated kids need most is a way to make friends. There is a desperate need for programs that allow us to interact with peers and find emotional stability, but I couldn't find any in my area."

Youths preparing for college entrance exams are just as neglected. Choi said, "Most of Kkumdream's academic support is limited to the level of the qualification exam. There is no one to help me plan my college studies or set goals, so I often feel helpless fighting the entrance exam battle alone."

According to data submitted by Assemblywoman Cho Eunhee's office from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the number of users of the Kkumdream Center increased from 38,329 in 2023 to 39,930 in 2024, and 33,019 in the first half of 2025. However, regional disparities in infrastructure remain. While the centers are concentrated in Gyeonggi Province (32 locations) and Seoul (26 locations), regions such as Sejong (1 location), Jeju (3 locations), and Ulsan (5 locations) have only single-digit numbers, making the support gap clear.