South Korean Job Seekers Spend Average $3,300 on Private Coaching

South Korean job seekers are facing significant financial burdens, with average spending on private education for job hunting reaching 4.55 million won ($3,300) last year. This marks a dramatic 100% increase from the 2.27 million won spent in 2022, translating to a monthly average expenditure of 380,000 won. The rising costs are taking a toll, as 71.1% of job seekers reported experiencing financial hardship during their job search. The trend highlights how the pressure to secure employment is extending the financial strain of education well into early adulthood. A significant portion of job seekers, 73.8%, are juggling job hunting with part-time work to manage these expenses. The most common private education expenses include obtaining professional certifications, which accounted for 64.9% of spending, followed by improving English test scores at 56%. These figures underscore a growing societal concern about the escalating costs associated with securing stable employment in South Korea and suggest a need for national-level investigation into the job preparation education market.