◀ Anchor ▶
A series of reports in search of alternatives and the reality of Korea, which is experiencing a demographic precipice, is today the story of the local youth generation.
The severity of the outflow of the youth population in the region is not yesterday, but the outflow is worsening in areas relatively frequented by young people.
Jeju Island, which is visited by thousands of young people every year, has also seen a sharp decline in the influx of young people in just five years.
Reporter Kim Hang-seop covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
Yang Eun-jung, a college senior preparing for a job.
Though I’m originally from Jeju, I’m thinking of leaving Jeju before I get a job.
This is because there are no jobs in the field you want in Jeju.
[양은정/제주대학교 4학년]
“I am preparing for a job in education or publishing. There are no companies like this in Jeju Island and there are no internship opportunities…”
Conversely, the same goes for college students who have come down to Jeju Island from Seoul because they like Jeju.
I am about to leave Jeju.
[목진예/제주대학교 4학년]
“There are few jobs, low wages and expensive housing, so I think it’s okay to find a job in Seoul, so I will go back to Seoul.”
As a result, even if good conditions arise, people cannot be saved and companies are suffering as they are.
[김지윤/숙박업체 대표]
“When it comes to hiring in Jeju, the number of applicants is small and it is difficult to find people who work long after they start working.”
In fact, the net influx of young people, which had exceeded 4,000, fell to 51 in just five years.
Half of Jeju’s youth cited lack of work as the cause.
I moved because it was a tourist destination, expecting there would be a lot of jobs, but that wasn’t actually the case.
At this rate, Jeju Island’s youth population in 2050 is expected to decline by 37 percent by 2021, about 100,000.
Jeju Island has invested 500 billion won over 5 years to support job search for young people.
However, due to the industrial structure with many undocumented workers focused on tourism and services, the income level is at the bottom of the nation, and the phenomenon of young people leaving Jeju is becoming more and more serious.
I’m Kim Hang-seop from MBC News.
Video coverage: Son Se-ho (Jeju)
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