started · updated
South Korean Youth Turn to Japan for Jobs Amid Domestic Shortage
South Korean graduates are increasingly seeking employment in Japan as entry‑level opportunities at home remain scarce. Large firms such as Samsung favour experienced workers, leaving many recent university graduates unable to secure positions. In June 2026 South Korea’s youth unemployment rate stood at 7%, while Japan’s overall unemployment rate was 2.5%.
A growing number of Korean job seekers are using specialised recruitment services. Entrepreneur Moe Kasugai founded the startup KOREC in 2019 to link Korean candidates with Japanese employers, and the company recently held a two‑day job fair in Seoul. Government‑backed programmes placed 2,257 young Koreans in Japanese jobs last year, a 47% rise from 2024, making Japan the top overseas destination for Korean workers. Over 80,000 Koreans now work in Japan, many in professional roles such as IT, retail and game development. South Korea’s Wanted Lab and Japan’s LAPRAS have launched similar placement services this year, joining early mover Mynavi.
Entities
KOREC · LAPRAS · Moe Kasugai · Mynavi · Wanted Lab
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Moe Kasugai founded the startup KOREC in 2019 to connect South Korean job seekers with Japanese employers. www.businesstimes.com.sg · www.scmp.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Large South Korean firms such as Samsung prefer experienced workers, limiting entry‑level positions for recent graduates. www.businesstimes.com.sg
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Japan's overall unemployment rate was 2.5% in June 2026. www.businesstimes.com.sg
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The United States saw a 29% drop in the number of Koreans working there. www.businesstimes.com.sg
- [○ 1 SOURCE] South Korea's Wanted Lab and Japan's LAPRAS launched services similar to KOREC in 2024. www.businesstimes.com.sg
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 80,000 Koreans work in Japan, mainly in professional roles such as retail, IT and game development. www.businesstimes.com.sg
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 2,257 young Koreans took jobs in Japan last year through government‑backed programmes, a 47% increase from 2024. www.businesstimes.com.sg
- [○ 1 SOURCE] South Korea's youth unemployment rate was 7% in June 2026. www.businesstimes.com.sg