It is hard to believe that half of Korea’s university graduates cannot find a permanent job:

Half of university graduates are having a hard time finding permanent jobs, and a rising number are choosing to join the military — now four out of every 100 male graduates of four-year universities. The recession coupled with a growing preference among companies for contract workers rather than permanent employment is hitting new diploma holders hard.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Korean Educational Development Institute on Sunday, 379,524 or 76.4 percent of 547,416 new university graduates found jobs after leaving school in February.

But only 48.3 percent landed permanent jobs, down 7.8 percent from 56.1 percent last year, whereas the percentage who found temporary jobs rose from 18.8 percent last year to 26.2 percent this year. In 2005, 56.7 percent of new university graduates found permanent employment and 15.7 percent temporary jobs.  [Chosun Ilbo]

Now seems like a good a time as any to try and increase the number of professional soldiers joining the ROK Army.