"Half of This Year Gone" Job-Seeking Students Facing Delays Complain of 'Corona Blue'

Economic Outlook Worsens Due to COVID-19, Companies Delay or Cancel Hiring Schedules
Job Seekers Face 'Corona Blue' Symptoms Like Depression and Apathy Amid Tighter Hiring
Government Plans to Create 550,000 Public and Short-Term Jobs for Youth

A job seeker is resting at the Youth Job Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. / Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan, Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] "I only knew that getting a job was difficult, but I never dreamed that the opportunity to take exams would disappear entirely."

Job seeker A (28) recently feels deeply distressed. The schedules for corporate recruitment of new employees in the first half of the year have been postponed one after another, causing setbacks in job preparation. A said, "I obtained certifications and did experiential internships to definitely get a job this year," adding, "But I haven't been able to take a single exam throughout the first half of the year. I have to consider half of this year as lost," expressing frustration.

As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreads and the domestic economic outlook darkens, companies have started to postpone or cancel recruitment schedules to the second half of the year. As hiring opportunities narrow, some job seekers have reported experiencing so-called 'coronablue.'

Coronablue refers to feelings of depression or lethargy caused by disruptions to daily life or plans due to COVID-19.

Earlier, the Bank of Korea announced on the 23rd that Korea's real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of this year fell by 1.4% compared to the previous quarter. The economy contracted as domestic consumption shrank by 6.4% quarter-on-quarter due to COVID-19.

The problem lies in the expectation of a full-scale trade recession starting from the second quarter when COVID-19 spread worldwide. According to the Korea Customs Service, exports from the 1st to the 20th of this month decreased by 26.9%, and imports by 18.6% compared to the same period last year. Korea's trade dependence was 70.4% of GDP in 2018, so if exports and imports slump, the entire economy inevitably suffers serious damage.

Busan New Port / Photo by Yonhap News

As a result, domestic companies are canceling or postponing hiring plans.

According to a survey conducted by the job site 'Incruit' from the 14th to the 17th among 262 HR managers, 45% of companies responded that they have no hiring plans or are uncertain this year. 33.9% said they intend to hire but details are undecided, and only 21.1% said they definitely plan to hire.

Among them, some job seekers were found to experience coronablue symptoms such as severe stress and anxiety.

B, a person in their 20s who gave up preparing for employment in the first half of the year and is now working part-time at a convenience store, said, "I was preparing to get a job in the financial sector after graduation, but no recruitment announcements appeared until March, which made me anxious," adding, "The greatest pain was the despair of wondering if I am wasting my time."

Another job seeker C (28) said, "Honestly, I always felt inferior when preparing for jobs because my qualifications were lacking compared to others," and added, "After COVID-19, the already narrow job market feels completely closed, so I feel depressed."

Job Seeker / Photo by Yonhap News

A joint survey by Incruit and the job site 'Albacall' targeting 3,903 adult men and women found that among job-seeking university students who experienced coronablue, 21.7% said that 'anxiety caused by recruitment delays or cancellations' was the biggest cause of their depression.

The government plans to create short-term jobs for youth by injecting finances. Earlier, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced a 10.1 trillion won 'Employment Safety Special Measures' on the 22nd. The ministry will invest 3.6 trillion won of the budget to create 550,000 public and youth short-term jobs. It also plans to support hiring subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises, so that when the private sector creates youth jobs, the government will support labor costs.

Experts suggested that light physical activity can help relieve stress caused by coronablue.

Professor Yoon Daehyun of Seoul National University’s Department of Mental Health Medicine appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyungrae's Strongest Current Affairs' in February and explained, "Anxiety itself is not pathological, but when anxiety increases, it can reduce various brain fatigue levels and excessively strengthen stress responses," adding, "Typical symptoms include insomnia, panic disorder, and burnout."

He continued, "The easiest way to overcome coronablue is light physical activities such as walking. Light activities are as effective as anti-stress or antidepressant medications," emphasizing, "I recommend taking walks in quiet places during leisure time. Communicating with friends and family is also important."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.