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Walking the life path to success: discovering the experiences of job-seeking young adults in Korea

Yoon, Jiyoung LU (2022) SOCM04 20221
Sociology
Department of Sociology
Abstract
This thesis explores the job-seeking experiences of Korean young adults to see how the choices of future careers have been made. Its knowledge was gained by a qualitative research method which interprets the meanings of the participants' experiences. 12 interviews were conducted in total and in-depth narratives were presented to them. The theoretical approaches have made that two sociological theories from Hongjung Kim and Nikolas Rose provide insight by focusing on the social-economical structure of modern society. The results turned
out that the ‘atmosphere’ of competition and ‘normalized path’ is guiding the lives of Korean young adults to believe and act in an economical way which can be conceptualized as ‘neoliberal culture’.... (More)
This thesis explores the job-seeking experiences of Korean young adults to see how the choices of future careers have been made. Its knowledge was gained by a qualitative research method which interprets the meanings of the participants' experiences. 12 interviews were conducted in total and in-depth narratives were presented to them. The theoretical approaches have made that two sociological theories from Hongjung Kim and Nikolas Rose provide insight by focusing on the social-economical structure of modern society. The results turned
out that the ‘atmosphere’ of competition and ‘normalized path’ is guiding the lives of Korean young adults to believe and act in an economical way which can be conceptualized as ‘neoliberal culture’. Additionally, various emotions and many hardships experiences are observed though its logic was related to their situation that to endlessly seek their personal success which is forced by the ‘neoliberal culture’. However, even though the existing system is rigid, the participants were living a life of their own, by recognizing the power and logic of the structure and feeling true happiness through desiring their own dreams. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Yoon, Jiyoung LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOCM04 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
job-seeking process, Korean young adults, neoliberalism, survivalism, enterprising self
language
English
id
9100577
date added to LUP
2022-09-21 12:12:22
date last changed
2022-09-21 12:12:22
@misc{9100577,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the job-seeking experiences of Korean young adults to see how the choices of future careers have been made. Its knowledge was gained by a qualitative research method which interprets the meanings of the participants' experiences. 12 interviews were conducted in total and in-depth narratives were presented to them. The theoretical approaches have made that two sociological theories from Hongjung Kim and Nikolas Rose provide insight by focusing on the social-economical structure of modern society. The results turned 
out that the ‘atmosphere’ of competition and ‘normalized path’ is guiding the lives of Korean young adults to believe and act in an economical way which can be conceptualized as ‘neoliberal culture’. Additionally, various emotions and many hardships experiences are observed though its logic was related to their situation that to endlessly seek their personal success which is forced by the ‘neoliberal culture’. However, even though the existing system is rigid, the participants were living a life of their own, by recognizing the power and logic of the structure and feeling true happiness through desiring their own dreams.}},
  author       = {{Yoon, Jiyoung}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Walking the life path to success: discovering the experiences of job-seeking young adults in Korea}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}