The competition in the job market for college graduates is growing fiercer by the day.
It's getting to a point where students have to fight hard to get into school clubs focused on enhancing skills you would get at real workplaces.
Kwon So-a reports.
One of the excitements for a Korean freshman is participating in a dongari,... the Korean word for an extracurricular club at a university.
And these days, the most popular clubs are those that will help students prepare for getting a job, such as management or start-up clubs.
"The open spots in our club filled up in just five days."
That's led to a fierce competition for entry to the clubs.
What you see here is not a job interview.
These seniors are testing freshmen on whether they are qualified to be a member of their group.
All this competition seems to have helped,... as many club members have successfully entered the workforce.
"We believe that once we go through the club's curriculum and events, we build up the knowledge and traits that are needed in the workplace."
The rise in the number of these extracurricular clubs has followed the rise in Korea's youth unemployment rate -- a problem that can't be solved solely by higher education.
Despite a university entrance rate of around 70 percent, statistics show that it's not easy for members of the younger generation to get a job.
According to Statistics Korea, the unemployment rate of young Koreans ages 15 to 29 hit a record high of over 9 percent last year.
Still, the clubs may help with the job hunt, though there are drawbacks.
"A university is not only a place to prepare for getting a job. It's a place to build up one's knowledge of the humanities and social relations."
Some have also expressed concerns that university students will have to face employment worries after graduation in any case, and that in the meantime, they won't get to enjoy just being a student.
Kwon Soa, Arirang News.
