Seoul students say no to uni

More South Korean high school graduates choose vocational schools instead.

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Nursing student Jang Dong-hae, 25, practices during a lecture at Bucheon University in Bucheon, South Korea, Nov 10, 2015. Photo: Reuters[/caption]

Jang Dong-hae dropped out of university within one year of pursuing a finance degree to become a nurse. His parents support this decision as the employment rate is higher compared to other non-technical majors.

Choosing a vocational education also allows him to work part-time of which salary he uses to pay for tuition fees.

He is not alone in this quest as many South Korean youths are finding it hard to get on a career track amidst a sluggish economy and rigid job market despite an exam-oriented education which places high value on excellent grades.

“Parents’ ambition to send their kids to good universities has peaked and is slowly declining,” said Mr Son Jong-chil, economics professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. “Little by little people are now thinking that not everyone should go to universities.”

Within the past three years, there is an increase of intake at South Korean vocational schools by 25% according to the Korean Council of University College Education.