The lie of the 880,000 won generation

A 24-year-old man who landed a job after receiving vocational training fully sponsored by the government wrote an essay. “Hey, 880,000-won (779.80 U.S. dollars) generation! Stop complaining and get job training! The government will sponsor you.” Kim Seong-joon, who used to attend college in the provinces, dropped out of school and underwent intensive training at a human resource development office of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul for two years. He then got a job at an IT company. Kim said he wrote the essay because he wanted to let other young people know of another way if they change their mindset at a time when they believe they are the "880,000 won generation."

To have more young people like Kim change their minds and future, breaking the lie of the 880,000-won generation is crucial. This term, which is from the title of a book authored by economist Woo Seok-hoon in 2007, refers to people in 20s who are temporary workers. The moniker has often been used by certain groups to amplify the grievances of young people. “A university graduate is paid less than 1 million won (886.10 dollars) or “Youth unemployment is a given or a contract worker at best” are popular sayings espoused by such groups. Woo also urged those in their 20s to put down prep books for the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, and take up gravels (for a protest). Young people, however, should not be swayed by such demagogic arguments.

Five years ago, Woo in his book said, “Among those in their 20s, only the top 5 percent will get decent jobs such as at the Korea Electric Power Corp. and Samsung or Grade 5 government positions. The remaining 95 percent will only work as contract workers.” He said the salary of 20-somethings will be 880,000 won (779.80 dollars), a figure he got by multiplying the average salary of a temporary worker of 1.19 million won (1,050 dollars) by 75 percent, which he said is the average salary of those in their 20s. According to Statistics Korea, the average income of a contract worker was 1.35 million won (1,194 dollars) in January this year. The share of temporary workers in their 20s is far less than 95 percent and their average income is 1.24 million won (1,100 dollars). The notion of the 880,000-won generation is no longer valid. Anyone who gets government-sponsored job training and a license or certification will find decent jobs paying more than 20 million won (17,722 dollars) per year.

Twenty-somethings in Korea will not remain temporary workers for the rest of their lives. Many of those in their 40s or 50s are jobless or paid far less than those in their 20s or 30s. A low salary should not be perceived as a generational problem. The government’s basic role is to provide education and training to help all people develop their own abilities and get jobs. Advanced economies such as Germany and Denmark see no fall in youth employment in times of global economic crisis and tend to promote “learn-fare,” which ties practical education with jobs.

Korea`s younger generation cannot expect the government to resolve all social problems without changing their own perceptions and efforts. For its part, the government should prepare incentives so that positive-minded young people like Kim can get good job training.