3 in 10 of out-of-school youths struggle with mental health issues, survey finds

A distressed man buries his face in his hands. [GETTY IMAGES]

 

About three in 10 out-of-school youths in Korea have experienced depression or social withdrawal, with many struggling to find a career path after leaving school.

 

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released findings from its 2025 survey on out-of-school youth on Sunday. The biannual survey covered 2,811 out-of-school youths aged 9 to 24 who were in youth shelters, juvenile detention centers or alternative education institutions, or who had taken the middle and high school equivalency exams last year. 

 

 

Most out-of-school youths left during high school, accounting for 67.2 percent. Psychological and mental health issues were the most common reasons for dropping out. Younger students in elementary and middle school were more likely to leave due to parental recommendation. 

 

Out-of-school youths showed clear signs of instability in both mental health and social relationships.

 

A total of 31.1 percent reported experiencing depression severe enough to disrupt daily life in the past two weeks. This is higher than the 25.7 percent recorded among middle and high school students in the annual Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey last year. 

 

Over the past 12 months, 16.2 percent said they had attempted self-harm, while 21.1 percent reported having contemplated suicide.

 

The share of those who reported using narcotic drugs after dropping out was 1.2 percent, up 0.2 percentage points from 2023.

 

A total of 35.1 percent said they had experienced social withdrawal, often leading them to stay at home and avoid outside activities after leaving school. 

 

High school students take an exam at a school in Busan on March 24. [YONHAP]

 

Career-related challenges emerged as the most pressing issue.

 

A total of 26.9 percent cited difficulty finding a career path as the biggest problem after leaving school, an increase of 3.7 percentage points from two years earlier. Being perceived with bias, discriminated against or ignored, which was the biggest problem reported in the 2023 report, fell by 3.3 percentage points in the latest report. 

 

As a result, the largest share of respondents, 31.4 percent, said they had not decided on their future plans. This was higher than the 29.5 percent who responded that they planned to return to formal education, including college, and the 12.4 percent who were preparing for middle and high school equivalency exams.

 

When asked about specific difficulties related to career planning, 42.4 percent said they did not know how to set career goals. Another 41.2 percent said they were unsure of their aptitudes.

 

In response, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to assess career competencies among out-of-school youths, connect them with tailored programs and develop and operate AI-based education courses. The ministry also plans to expand its one-stop support services for socially withdrawn youths from 12 regions to 14 this year.

 

“Emotional difficulties and anxiety about the future remain significant among out-of-school youths,” said Minister Won Min-kyong. “We will strengthen support to help them recover mental well-being and systematically plan their education and career paths.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY JUNG JONG-HOON [[email protected]]