For Son Ga-hyun, job searching in Korea has been a slow grind with little to show for it. The 26-year-old, who spent nearly two years teaching part time, has been trying for months to break into educational content and textbook development. So far, nothing has clicked. “There are barely any entry-level openings, and even internships are packed with experienced applicants,” she said. “Even when roles are technically open to both, it feels like I never really have a shot since I have to compete alongside candidates with years of experience.” Amid a cooling economy, companies are gravitating toward candidates who can hit the ground running, leaving little room for them to invest the time and resources needed to train new hires. “So what they really want nowadays are ‘pre-experienced rookies,’” she added. “It’s a system where you can’t build experience because no one gives you the chance in the first place.” A 24-year-old job seeker surnamed Kim in Busan, preparing to enter publishing, described a similar bind: fewer openings and even fewer that feel within reach. “Th