Discovering a career path is central to the journey of 23-year-old Park Woo-joo, a university-educated but unemployed South Korean on a quest for his future. Park’s exploration takes place at a kids’ role-playing theme park in Seoul, part of a global chain known as KidZania. This park, usually dedicated to entertaining young children with various job simulations, has been repurposed by KidZania South Korea to host adults-only events geared towards helping the unemployed youth navigate their career aspirations in a fun and interactive way.
South Korea faces high youth unemployment rates despite a low birthrate, pointing to a mismatch between the country’s highly educated youth and the demands of its labor market. Park, armed with a business administration degree but struggling to secure a desired job, eagerly participated in the “Kids-ania” event for adults, hoping to gain insights into his future career path through playful exploration.
Guided by Kang Jae-hyung, president of KidZania South Korea, the adult events aim to reignite the inner child in young adults and encourage them to pursue their dreams without reservations. As Kang notes, it’s crucial not to stifle children’s aspirations and to tap into their inherent sense of fun.
As the population shrinks and sectors like agriculture and hospitality face labor shortages, South Korea continues to grapple with high youth unemployment rates. The issue is exacerbated by young people’s reluctance to pursue jobs they consider unpopular or beneath their qualifications. To address this, the country needs to create more quality jobs, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Unemployed young individuals are encouraged to overcome their inhibitions and pursue their passions fearlessly, as Kang emphasizes the importance of self-expression and authenticity in the job market.
