"Quitting the Company to Do YouTube" Office Workers Designing Their 'Second Life'

81.3% of Office Workers 'Preparing for a Second Life Plan'
Office Workers Have a Positive View of Challenging Themselves as YouTubers
Experts Say "This Phenomenon Occurred Because They Don't Have to Worry About Others Like in Office Life"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] "I want to quit my job and become a YouTuber."

Office worker Im Mo (27) said, "The phrase 'lifetime employment' seems like a thing of the past. Sometimes I feel like quitting my job and trying something else."

Im Mo added, "YouTube is the trend these days. If you gain fame through social network services (SNS) like YouTube or Instagram, making money seems like just a matter of time," and said, "So recently, I've been learning video editing tools in my spare time and thinking about what kind of content I can create."

As the number of YouTubers earning high incomes comparable to large corporations' salaries increases, more office workers are preparing for a 'second life' while still employed. Office workers responded positively to YouTubers, citing reasons such as "self-realization not achieved at work" and "supplementing unsatisfactory salaries."

According to a survey, most office workers are preparing for a second life and have a positive attitude toward challenging themselves as YouTubers.

Job search platform JobKorea conducted a survey on the 16th targeting 2,070 office workers about 'life after retirement,' and 81.3% of respondents said they are preparing for a second life. Additionally, in October last year, Saramin surveyed 3,543 adults nationwide, and 63% of respondents said they are willing to challenge themselves as YouTubers.

The top reason for wanting to become a YouTuber was "having an interest in content" at 48.1%. This was followed by △expecting to earn more than a salary (22.2%) △thinking it might be easier than getting a job (10.2%), among others.

Photo by Yonhap News

It has been found that many people jump into YouTube production or even quit their jobs for self-realization while working. As of the 24th, more than 100 videos titled 'Quit Job Vlog' or 'Quit Job YouTube' can be found on YouTube. Most of these videos mention reasons for starting YouTube after quitting, such as "having no dreams to achieve at the company."

Financial technology creator Joo Eon-gyu revealed in an interview with tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' on the 23rd, "I used to work as an economic TV PD. I entered with the dream of being a PD, but once I got there, I realized I had no dream. I did my best at work but was not recognized. I cried every day. After work, I worked in the studio until 2 or 3 a.m., slept briefly, and repeated going back to work."

Joo said, "Currently, I run the 'Sinsa Imdang' YouTube channel with 860,000 subscribers. Besides YouTube, I do everything that makes money. My income has increased 100 times from the 1.8 million won monthly salary I earned as a PD."

Experts explain this phenomenon as a combination of dissatisfaction with office life and the perception that YouTubers earn a lot.

Professor Kwak Geum-ju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology said, "The perception that YouTubers receive many material and economic benefits has become widespread, so many people dream of becoming YouTubers," adding, "Also, becoming a YouTuber allows people to avoid the scrutiny they face in office life, which brings greater pleasure than working in a company."

Professor Kwak added, "However, there are cases where sensational content is produced to differentiate content, which can cause social problems."

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