According to Statistics Korea, a total of 238,000 young people aged between 15 and 29 had not been employed for more than three years.

That's the highest figure in the last three years since COVID-19 swept through the country.

Among the unemployed, over 82,000 people said they're not keen on looking for work and training opportunities or interested in recruitment processes offered by prospective employers.

The most cited reason for such disengagement was that they were simply resting at home, followed by preparing for tests, caring for children or doing household chores, and studying to further their education.

The survey indicated that many young people who graduated from college were not even actively seeking to get employed.

In fact, the number of long-term unemployed youth who just stayed at home was on a downward trajectory but shot back up this year.

Compared to before COVID-19, the numbers are significantly higher.

To tackle the issue, the government has announced plans to encourage young people to enter the job market and support those who remain isolated or have opted to be reclusive.

Some experts, however, are of the opinion that the government should focus more on providing practical assistance so that young people can gain diverse experiences that can prepare them for future employment.

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