Comedian Jang Dong-min sparked an online debate after sharing his views on youth unemployment. As his remarks that "it's hard to understand people saying they can't get a job" and that "there are virtually no applicants in their 20s and 30s" became known, reactions have split between agreement and backlash.
On the 18th, a video of Jang Dong-min's remarks on a Wave original variety program spread across several online communities. The broadcast held a discussion on the phenomenon of "Korean men in their 20s and 30s choosing to go to Japan for jobs and marriage."
In the video, Jang Dong-min asked, "Why are men going to Japan?" When panelist Ye-won answered, "People say it's easy to get a job," Jang said, "Saying you can't get a job doesn't make sense."
Citing his own business experience, he said, "Even if we post hiring notices, there are almost no applicants," and, "There are none in their 20s and 30s; resumes come only from those in their 40s and 50s." He continued, "This isn't a part-time posting but a formal hiring notice," adding, "All the business owners around me say they're short-handed."
When another panelist asked, "Isn't it because people prefer office jobs at large companies?" Jang Dong-min said, "People say Korean companies keep contacting you after work, but there are hardly any like that," adding, "In the end, people in their 20s and 30s just don't want to work."
Some internet users agreed with him, saying, "It's a reality that small and midsize companies in the provinces struggle to find workers," and, "There's a strong tendency to look only for good jobs." Others criticized him, saying, "It's not that young people don't go to companies; there are many places with poor conditions," and, "Preference for large companies is due to wage and benefits gaps, but this oversimplifies reality."