{
  "id": 15544667,
  "title": "Job seekers in Korea spend $400 monthly preparing for employment, survey finds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/job-seekers-in-korea-spend-400-monthly-preparing-for-employment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T02:47:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/others/20261019/job-seekers-in-korea-spend-400-monthly-preparing-for-employment-survey-finds"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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%.\n\nJob 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).\n\nWithin academic fields, respondents studying education, medicine, and health reported the highest costs associated with their job search efforts.",
  "summary": "Nearly 7 in 10 young job seekers in Korea feel financially strained by the cost of finding work, spending an average of 580,000 won ($400) a month on exam fees, training and other preparation, according to a survey released Monday. The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) commissioned Mono Research to survey 1,000 job seekers ages 19 to 34 nationwide from Sept. 10-18. Respondents spent the…",
  "key_points": [
    "77% of young job seekers in South Korea feel financially strained by employment costs.",
    "Average monthly expense of $400 on preparation, with certification fees accounting for 30.7%."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Rising costs for certifications and education create a significant financial burden for South Korean youth, disproportionately penalizing those who face longer periods of unemployment or specialized career paths.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Job seekers in Korea spend $400 monthly preparing for employment, survey finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/job-seekers-in-korea-spend-400-monthly-preparing-for-employment-15548330",
        "published": "2026-10-19T03:12:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}