94% of Young South Koreans Use Private Education for Job Seeking, Spending 300,000 Won Monthly

A vast majority of young adults in South Korea, nearly 94%, have invested in private education to enhance their job-seeking prospects, according to a recent survey. These individuals spend an average of 300,000 won (approximately $215 USD) monthly on such services, translating to an estimated annual expenditure of 3.6 million won per person.

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The vast majority of young adults have experienced private education for job seeking.

The survey, conducted by the Education Spring Foundation and the Youth Foundation, highlights that 'major certifications' are the most sought-after private education area, with 52.1% of respondents participating. This is closely followed by 'language skills' at 43.4%, and 'job consulting' for resumes, interviews, and portfolios at 40.0%.

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The most utilized job-seeking private education was 'major certifications' (52.1%), followed by 'language skills' (43.4%) and 'job consulting' for resumes, interviews, and portfolios (40.0%).

Interestingly, the study revealed disparities in spending based on educational background and university affiliation. Graduates from top-tier universities like SKY (Seoul National, Korea, Yonsei) and other metropolitan universities reported higher monthly spending compared to those from universities outside the capital. Those with a high school education or less reported the highest average spending at 442,000 won per month.

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Approximately 300,000 won is spent monthly on average.

Given these findings, the foundations are urging the government to implement regular, nationwide surveys on job-seeking private education costs, similar to existing surveys for K-12 education. They also advocate for a review and improvement of current support programs to better align with the financial burdens faced by young job seekers. Enhancing the quality of university career programs and increasing opportunities for practical work and internships are also recommended to equip young people with essential skills.

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The government should conduct regular surveys on job-seeking private education costs based on gender, education level, region, and age, similar to K-12 education cost surveys.