Frustrated with South Korea, more men seek work-life balance and love in Japan
South Korea’s tough job market and marriage expectations have prompted many to settle down in the neighbouring country
According to Shueisha Online, a Japanese media outlet, the number of South Koreans seeking work or permanent settlement in Japan has been steadily rising. Data released by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed that the number of South Koreans working in Japan increased from about 69,000 in 2020 to roughly 75,000 in 2024, an increase of around 8 per cent over four years.
The trend reflects mounting frustration among young South Koreans with the country’s highly competitive employment landscape, which many see as leaving them little choice but to look abroad.
One such case introduced by the outlet is a 34-year-old South Korean man identified by the pseudonym Choi Geon-woo. Choi majored in hotel management at a South Korean university and pursued hotel jobs at home before spending time on a working holiday in Australia. In 2019, he secured a job in Japan and now works for a real estate-related company there.
He added that even after landing a job, long working hours and low pay eventually pushed him to leave South Korea.