South Koreans under 30 face employment challenges

Young South Koreans under 30 are facing grave challenges in the job market, with the employment rate declining for 15 consecutive months.

According to the country's statistics authorities, the employment rate for South Koreans under 30 dropped to 45.8 percent in July due to decreased labor demand in manufacturing, hospitality and other sectors, marking a decline for the 15th consecutive month.

And an increasing number of companies in the country prefer to hire people with both technical skills and practical experience, prompting many undergraduate graduates to pursue further studies at vocational colleges.

Kim Dae-young, 26 years old, originally majored in electrical control for nuclear power plants and worked in film production after graduation. After about a year, amid the rising wave of artificial intelligence, he noticed that many vocational colleges in the country were offering related programs. Then he decided to return to school to study a program that combines artificial intelligence and game.

"I believe it is a right choice to take a program that combines artificial intelligence and game. In reality, there are not many places that specialize in training such people. I hope to gain extensive hands-on experience here so that I can apply what I've learned professionally when I work in a company in the future," said Kim, a student at Seoul University.

In recent years, the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology has garnered significant attention, particularly in related fields and interdisciplinary programs. According to preliminary statistics, nearly 20 vocational colleges in the country have launched similar programs.

As the population ages and people become more conscious of health and wellness, the demand for specialized talent in senior care, healthcare, biotechnology, and food production has been quickly on the rise, prompting more vocational colleges to introduce relevant courses. Many colleges also have added programs in renewable energy, semiconductors, and information technology to attract more undergraduate students to return for further study.

"I chose to return to vocational college because the specialized knowledge and practical experience I gain there is very helpful for me to acquire professional qualification certificates and for my future employment," said Moon Joon-hyuk, a student majored in sports rehabilitation at Yuhan University.

According to data from the South Korean Council for University College Education, there were over 88,000 students aged 25 and older enrolled in vocational colleges nationwide last year, doubling the figure of 2018. The number of new returnees to vocational colleges who have graduated from university has been increasing year by year. In some vocational colleges, half of the new students for the 2025 academic year are individuals returning from other vocational colleges or those who have graduated from undergraduate programs.

"It is precisely because of the recognition of the value of professional experience in the workplace that many students choose to return to vocational colleges," said Kim Min-chul, a professor at Seoul University.

South Koreans under 30 face employment challenges

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media