Even graduates of Korea’s top schools can’t find work as more young people just give up on jobs

Despite rigorous college entrance exams like Sunung and graduating from top universities, many South Korean graduates are struggling to find employment. The number of 20s and 30s with at least a 4-year degree unemployed for over 6 months has reached 35,000, the highest in 13 months.

A total of 119,000 people have been jobless for over 6 months, a four-year high. This is happening despite a decrease in the youth population (15-29) and a record-high overall employment rate. Experts point to an unresolved job mismatch, with 628,000 people in their 20s and 30s classified as taking a break from actively seeking employment, a record for October.

Highly educated graduates, even from prestigious institutions like Seoul National University, have expectations for decent jobs that are not available. Furthermore, concerns are rising about the impact of AI potentially squeezing the job market, leading to widespread anxiety about future employment regardless of academic achievements.