Korean college students struggle with tuition fees: survey

Three in 10 college students in South Korea are planning to take a semester or year off in order to secure tuition fees, a survey showed on Monday.

Job search site Saramin conducted a survey on 271 university students and discovered that 27.3 percent, or 74 students, were considering a leave of absence to raise college funds.

When those surveyed were asked about their plans during the voluntary break, 66.2 percent answered they would get a part-time job. Another choice favored by students was to get a short-term job at a company.

Most students said they would take one year off from school, while a six-month leave of absence was also preferred.

Suspending their study, however, comes at a cost. 

The survey showed that students, while taking one or two semesters off, tend to come under pressure such as delayed graduation and restrictions in applying for a job due to an age limit. 

Most Korean companies set an age limit for job applicants.

By Im Woo-jung, Intern reporter
(iwj@herladcorp.com)