[Anchor]

From January to August of this year, the number of employed young people in their 20s dropped by 5.6 percent compared to the same period last year. This is even more severe than the aftermath of the global financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic. While the overall employment rate remains similar to last year, the youth employment rate fell by 1 percentage point, and the time it takes to land a first job has also increased compared to 10 years ago. Given these circumstances, live-in employment training centers for job seekers have emerged, reminiscent of boarding academies for college entrance exam repeaters. We listened to the stories of young people there.

Reporter Lee Se-hyeon has more.

[Reporter]

["There is a welding sequence from number 1 to 39..."]

With an average age of 28,

27 job seekers learn coding starting at 9 a.m. at this three-month live-in employment training center, known as a "boot camp."

[Kim Yu-bin (27) / Suwon, Gyeonggi Province: "I was making an automated solution to predict whether a completed battery is defective or good."]

At the boot camp, which takes its name from military boot camps, thoughts are consumed by job hunting even during breaks and lunchtime.

["Is it until October 17? One month. Will you apply (for the job posting)?" "I have to apply."]

Although daily routines end past 9 p.m. every night, students do not stop studying individually even after returning to their dormitories.

[Kim Young-sik (32) / Wonju, Gangwon Province: "Living here 24 hours a day and continuously (studying) with fellow trainees on projects... I should say it is a bit more desperate. Because, well, there is age to consider."]

Over 100 people applied from across the country, and 31 entered after going through document screening and interview processes. Four weeks in, four trainees successfully landed jobs and checked out.

[Eun Ji-won / Boot camp instructor: "Since entering a live-in camp is not an easy decision for the students, there are many students with a high will to learn..."]

The boot camp is part of the "K-New Deal Academy," for which the government injected 98.8 billion won in supplementary budget in April to resolve youth unemployment, and participation is free of charge.

Around 50 companies receiving tax benefits and other supports provide the venues and conduct the educational programs.

[Lee Joo-hee / Professor of Sociology, Ewha Womans University: "It means (the boot camp) requires entering a camp like the military and learning all day long. It gives the feeling that job competition has turned into a job war."]

In an era where employment is difficult despite having the highest qualifications in history, the grueling day of job seekers who voluntarily entered an employment boot camp rushed by again today.

[Cha Se-il (31) / Nam-gu, Busan: "I am approaching this with a heavy heart, thinking of it as my last challenge. Our ultimate goal for all of us is successful employment, and it is everyone's wish to achieve our ultimate objective after fully equipping ourselves with work capabilities."]

(Photo: Yonhap News)

Reported by Kang Si-woo | Video by Park Na-young | Graphics by Cho Su-in