Slow Economy is Leading More Koreans to Learn Trade Skills

Due to the slow economy more Koreans are turning towards learning trade skills than trying to pursue white collar jobs:

A growing number of people of all ages are learning blue-collar skills like building maintenance and landscaping, even if they have degrees from top universities or have previously worked for big conglomerates. 
The reason is that they feel that blue-collar jobs offer more job security than office work in a recession. 
At the city-run Seoul Institute of Technology and Education, the most popular class just five years ago was cooking, favored by people who wanted to open their own restaurants. But now it is landscaping and grounds-keeping, perhaps because there seems to be a growing appetite from condos and municipalities for clean, well-designed open spaces. 
Building and electrical maintenance are also in high demand. Courses are free and last from six months to a year . 
Choi Sung-cheol, an instructor at the institute, said, “In tough economic times the popular classes are not entrepreneurship but skills that guarantee work past the average retirement age.”

Chosun Ilbo

You can read more at the link, but I think it is good that more people are learning trades. Going to college and working a white collar job is not for everyone and many trades do offer a good income.