KRSouth Korean government data revealed that the number of unemployed college graduates reached a five-year high in the second quarter of 2026, with 481,000 individuals without jobs. This represents an increase of 39,000 compared to the same period in 2025. The unemployment rate among those with a bachelor's degree or higher has risen, with over 64% of the unemployed in this category being aged between 20 and 30. The Ministry of Data and Statistics attributed the rise to factors including the Middle East crisis affecting the labor market. Overall, the total number of unemployed individuals in South Korea reached 855,000 in Q2 2026, up slightly from the previous year.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data regarding unemployment rates among college graduates without overtly expressing a political stance. It cites government statistics and attributes the rise in unemployment to external factors like the Middle East crisis, maintaining a balanced approach without clear左
