No sleep, 2 jobs: Young South Koreans seek to escape Hell Joseon rat race | Asia’s stuck generation
South Korea may be home to K-pop and TV dramas, but life for the average young Korean is less glamorous. Millennials and Gen Zs in the country face high housing and other costs, and there is intense competition to get into top universities, which can determine one’s earning power and career opportunities for life. Many hold multiple jobs, or sleep only two to three hours a night.
The pressure is so intense that in 2021, South Korea’s suicide rate was the highest among OECD countries. Meanwhile, about 3.1 per cent of South Koreans aged 19 to 39 are recluses. CNA Insider meets four young Koreans who are trying to chart their own paths out of the rat race.
South Korea may be home to K-pop and TV dramas, but life for the average young Korean is less glamorous. Millennials and Gen Zs in the country face high housing and other costs, and there is intense competition to get into top universities, which can determine one’s earning power and career opportunities for life. Many hold multiple jobs, or sleep only two to three hours a night.
The pressure is so intense that in 2021, South Korea’s suicide rate was the highest among OECD countries. Meanwhile, about 3.1 per cent of South Koreans aged 19 to 39 are recluses. CNA Insider meets four young Koreans who are trying to chart their own paths out of the rat race.
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