"They Say They Can't Find Jobs, but They Just Don't Want to Work"... 2030s React Strongly to Dongmin Jang's Criticism

717,000 Millennials & Gen Z "Taking a Break" Last Year

CEO Jang Dongmin: "No Young Applicants Even When Posting Job Openings"

Comedian Dongmin Jang's comment on a variety show, stating "It makes no sense that people can't get a job," has belatedly become a hot topic.

Comedian Dongmin Jang, appearing on Betting on Fact. Wavve.

On May 17, a video titled "Dongmin Jang Criticizes Young People Who Took a Break in Their 20s and 30s" spread rapidly across several online communities.

In the video, Dongmin Jang, appearing on the Wavve original variety show Betting on Fact with other cast members, discussed the authenticity of a news story about "Korean men in their 20s and 30s choosing to go to Japan for jobs or marriage."

When Dongmin Jang asked, "But why are men going there?" a fellow cast member replied, "Because they say it's easier to find a job." Dongmin Jang, who is currently running both a PC cafe franchise and a poke franchise, argued, "There are no workers," and insisted, "It makes no sense to say you can't get a job."

He emphasized, "When I post job openings, not a single person applies," and added, "Every day, the resumes I get are from people in their 40s and 50s. You can't find anyone in their 20s or 30s." He also stressed that these were formal job openings, not part-time positions.

He continued, "I know a lot of business owners," and said, "Every single one of them says they're short on staff." When another cast member asked if this was because people only want office jobs at large corporations, Dongmin Jang agreed, saying, "In Korea, working hours aren't fixed, and you keep getting messages after work. But there isn't a single company like that," criticizing the attitude of the younger generation by saying, "They just don't want to work."

He went on to ask, "Do you think it's easy to work under someone else for a paycheck?" and questioned the attitude of some young people who only look for enjoyment at work, saying, "Who actually enjoys working?" He concluded that there is no reason to go to Japan since there are plenty of jobs in Korea, judging the news report as "fake."

Reactions to Dongmin Jang's remarks were sharply divided. Some internet users agreed, commenting, "Honestly, he's right," "Many small and medium-sized enterprises are short on people," and "If you want a job, there are plenty out there."

On the other hand, one user pointed out, "If you posted a job opening and not a single person applied, the conditions must be extremely poor or there's something wrong with the business." Another user rebutted, "I saw Dongmin Jang's company's job postings, and they were all looking for people with over five years of experience. If you post jobs for entry-level positions, at least 50 people would apply."

In fact, according to the Korea Employers Federation, the number of people in their 20s and 30s who are "taking a break" reached 717,000 last year, marking a steep increase for three consecutive years. "Taking a break" refers to the economically inactive population who are neither seeking jobs nor studying, and are simply resting.

The most commonly cited reason for young people becoming economically inactive is the quality of available jobs. Among young people (ages 15-29) who are "taking a break," 34.1% said the main reason for giving up on job searching was "difficulty in finding the job they want." This figure has risen from 30.8% the previous year.

The Korea Employers Federation stated, "The recent increase in the number of economically inactive young people, despite quantitative expansion of employment, suggests a structural issue where young people who have left the labor market due to job mismatches are unable to re-enter and remain economically inactive. It is urgent to shift to a flexicurity-centered paradigm by easing rigid employment regulations, reforming the wage system to enhance labor market flexibility, and expanding effective social safety nets."

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