More than three in four South Korean university students who postponed graduation cited employment uncertainty, according to a 15-year study by the National Youth Policy Institute (NYPI). Of the 1,139 respondents surveyed in 2025, 88.8 percent had attended university, while 7.4 percent of university attendees had delayed graduation.
Among those who postponed graduation, 76 percent cited the need for more time to prepare for employment or fears of struggling to find a job after graduating.
The study also found disparities in early employment. More than half of university attendees had taken a leave of absence, mainly for military service or career preparation. At their first jobs, respondents worked an average of 40.16 hours per week and earned 2.54 million won ($1,900) a month.
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