Recently, the global economy has been depressed. From earlier this year, small and medium enterprises, as well as large enterprises, have planned to cut down recruitment. Currently the youth unemployment rate is close to nearly 8 percent. This social problem is reaching universities. The increase of students who stay out of school temporarily shows this problem directly. Why do students choose temporary absence from university, instead of graduation? Because they want to improve their career called ‘Spec’ for getting a job. The dictionary's definition of '880,000won Generation' means people who get an amount of money which multiplied 1,190,000won, the average wage of non-regular workers, by 74percent, the average ratio of twenties' salary. Essentially, it means young people with only 880,000won for one month.

 The Dankook Herald interviewed with two Dankookians who had already experienced 'Internship.

Woo-Jin Jeon /Major in Accounting

Q1. Do you think that the 'Internship' helped to improve your skill, ‘Spec,’ for finding a job?

Actually, for six months, I interned at the 'Korea Development Bank.' I learned about practical calculation by computer and the official atmosphere. However the 'Internship' didn't help to develop my self-improvement like reading a book, studying English etc.

Q2. As one who experienced 'Internship,' are there some problems in the intern system which the government announced for pushing youth unemployment down?

In the case of my friends who experienced 'Internship,' they said that their company didn't treat them well. For example, the company cut down interns' day work for reducing their salary. My acquaintance, also they didn't have overtime payment from work. In my case, I saw that a staff of 'the Office of Human Resources' exaggerated the accomplishment of the staff's younger men before passing interns' result to head office.

Eun-Jee Ryu / Department of Chinese

Q1. Do you think that the 'Internship' helped to improve your skill, Spec, for finding a job?

The answer is 'No.' Actually I interned at 'Saramin HR' similar to 'Job Korea.' I'm glad to know how to keep good relationships with my boss and colleagues. But I think that there was no outcome except as previously-mentioned: keeping good relationships with others.

Q2. As one who experienced 'Internship,' are there some problems that the government announced for pushing youth unemployment down?

I am distressed that the current intent of internship is different from its original intent. I mean, the original purpose of internship is to give a chance to experience many kinds of jobs for young people. But now the actual use of this is to add someone's career on resume.

How about the other sight that it is individuals' responsibility? Twenties called 880,000won Generation have lived for themselves. They prepared the entrance examination for university. After entering university, they prepared 'spec' for a job. Even though the policy for them started, they studied only English rather than knowing the policy. This simple thing made them unhappy by themselves.

Then what do students think about this? So we inquired about Dankookian's opinion.

Jin-Joo Ryu / Department of Environmental Economics

Q1. What do you think about the 880,000won Generation?

I think the reason of this phenomenon is a failure of the government's policy and bad economic situation.

Q2. Who is responsible for this problem—individuals or government?

It is not a poor preparation of spec. After high school graduation, most students enter the university. They prepared many things for a job, but jobs that they want are limited. The door is too narrow to enter. The government's effort is not good enough.

Byung-Soo Kim / Department of International Trade

Q1. What do you think about 880,000won Generation?

It will happen to me one day, and the 880,000won generation which I belong to as well.

Q2. Who is responsible for this problem—individuals or government?

It might be the misjudgement of the government, but I think young people are responsible for this, too. There are many people who have high spec, but there are no talents who enterprises required because most of people prepared the same 'spec.' So if you want to get a job sincerely, you should prepare something special by yourselves.