Korea’s economically inactive population with a college degree or higher tallied 3.08 million people in 2013, up 3.2 percent from the previous year, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea.
As the number reached 2 million in 2004 and broke the 3 million mark last year, the data suggests that the economically inactive population grew by roughly 1 million in just nine years.
The economically inactive population refers to those over age 15 who are not employed, unemployed or currently seeking a job. Although the majority are students, the elderly and those committed to housework or parenting, the population also includes those who have given up searching or are simply on a break.
