"Money I couldn't save in 3 years in South Korea, but in Australia in just 3 months"... The reason young people buy one-way tickets

Can one become part of the middle class just by working diligently in South Korea? Amidst an unstable social structure where the future cannot be guaranteed, many young people purchase one-way flight tickets for a journey with no promised return. The 2016 KBS documentary 'KBS Special - Youth Escape, In Search of Dreams' captures the reality of young people who left South Korea for Australia due to employment competition and economic uncertainty.

"Writing resumes and getting rejected..." The 'escape' of young people falling into helplessness

Twenty-four-year-old Seung-woo boarded a plane bound for Perth, Australia. A ticket purchased without deciding a return date is a 'challenge toward a dream' to some, but an 'escape' from reality to others. Recalling his life in South Korea, Seung-woo confessed, "I sat at home every day writing resumes and getting rejected; I felt truly helpless." His words, "I could only think about why I was living like this," along with the feeling that he could do nothing, clearly show the psychological pressure young people felt at the time.

Seung-woo dropped out of the university he attended in South Korea and decided to settle in Australia. He had a specific plan to study automotive engineering in Australia to obtain permanent residency. However, reality was not easy. Jobs were scarce in Australia as well due to it being the off-season, and although Seung-woo visited ten places a day to hand out resumes, there were no immediate visible results. Regarding the situation in South Korea, he cited the reason for his escape as it being "a difficult place to make a living," noting that even if one finds a job amidst high competition, it does not guarantee a lifetime of stability.

The case of Lee Ja-ryong, who resides in Kalgoorlie, Australia's largest gold mining city, clearly demonstrates the difference in economic structures between South Korea and Australia. Lee, who majored in computer engineering at a national university in South Korea, is currently making a living by working both in hotel housekeeping and as a restaurant kitchen hand. He shared the hardships of the time when he worked part-time jobs in South Korea to earn tuition and living expenses, when the minimum wage was at the level of 4,580 won (as of 2012). At that time, it was difficult to both cover living expenses and save money even while working.

On the other hand, life in Australia had a difference proven by numbers. Australia's minimum wage at the time was at the level of 15,000 won per hour, which was about 2.5 times that of South Korea. Lee was able to save approximately 3,500 dollars (equivalent to about 3.5 million won) within just 3 months of arriving in Australia. He stated, "In South Korea, even after working for 3 years, I had never saved more than 3 million won in my bank account," attributing the possibility of saving in Australia to the high wage levels.

However, high wages do not solve all problems. Lee is also saving money with the goal of entering a vocational college (TAFE) to major in business administration in Australia, and after graduation, he is considering expanding into third countries such as Singapore or Hong Kong. The sight of young people striving for survival by recording daily expenditures in household account books in a foreign land is close to a fierce struggle for existence.

The young people appearing in the video all share a longing for a 'better life.' The pressure of competition, the low-wage structure, and the uncertainty about the future in South Korea pushed them toward foreign lands. The process of Seung-woo and Lee finding jobs and preparing tuition in their own ways amidst the cold Australian winter contains a question posed to young people by South Korean society, going beyond mere individual choice.