Job seekers in Korea spend $400 monthly preparing for employment, survey finds

Nearly three-quarters of young job seekers in South Korea feel financially strained by the expenses associated with finding employment, according to a survey conducted by Mono Research for the Federation of Korean Industries. The poll, which questioned 1,000 individuals aged 19 to 34 nationwide from September 10 to 18, found that respondents spent an average of 580,000 won ($400) per month on exam fees, training, and other preparation costs.

The largest portion of their budget was allocated to certification and language-test fees, accounting for 30.7% of their expenses. Education costs, including tuition and tuition-related expenses, made up 22.6% of their preparation budget, while textbooks and study materials accounted for 16.1%.

Job seekers who had spent three years or more preparing for employment reported higher monthly expenses of 800,000 won compared to those preparing for less than six months, who spent an average of 560,000 won. Age also played a role, with job seekers aged 30 to 34 spending an average of 600,000 won per month, compared to those aged 25 to 29 (580,000 won) and those aged 19 to 24 (560,000 won).

Within academic fields, respondents studying education, medicine, and health reported the highest costs associated with their job search efforts.