South Korea Job Seekers Face 4.55 Million Won Annual Prep Costs, Nearly Doubling in 3 Years
Updated
Updated · asiae.co.kr · Jun 9
South Korea Job Seekers Face 4.55 Million Won Annual Prep Costs, Nearly Doubling in 3 Years
1 articles · Updated · asiae.co.kr · Jun 9
Summary
4.55 million won was the average annual private spending on job preparation last year among 485 university graduates surveyed by JobKorea, the Education Spring Foundation said.
2.27 million won in 2022 has climbed to 4.55 million won in three years, implying roughly 200,000 won more in monthly job-hunting costs.
64.9% spent on major-related certifications, 56.7% on English tests such as TOEIC, and 32.7% on IT or computer skills, showing how hiring requirements extend beyond a degree.
71.1% reported financial hardship during their job search, and 73.8% said they worked part-time while preparing for employment.
The foundation urged the government to track employment-prep private education costs regularly, arguing the burden is rising fast like other forms of shadow education.