200 applicants for 20 spots: Middle-aged Koreans flock to vocational retraining

With the average retirement age stuck at 52.9, growing numbers of middle-aged Koreans preparing to re-enter the workforce are turning to vocational training. Korea Polytechnic University's mid-career specialized program drew an average competition ratio of 3.8 to 1 in the first half of this year, with some courses attracting more than 200 applicants for just 20 seats.

Korea Polytechnic University said Monday that enrollment in the mid-career specialized program — designed to help older workers find new jobs — has more than tripled in two years, rising from 2,500 in 2024 to 7,700 this year.

Demand has climbed steadily. The nationwide competition ratio rose from 2.5 to 1 in 2023 to 3 to 1 in 2024, then 3.3 to 1 in 2025, reaching 3.8 to 1 in the first half of this year. Electrical and facilities courses drew particularly strong interest — the electrical wiring program at the Seongnam Campus posted an 11-to-1 ratio, while the electrical equipment course at the Seoul Jeongsu Campus recorded 10.8 to 1.

Job placement outcomes have also improved. The employment rate for program graduates was 60.1 percent in 2023 and 59.0 percent in 2024, climbing to 64.3 percent in the first half of this year.

One example is Kim Gyeong-sik, 55, who learned automotive repair at the Seoul Jeongsu Campus and landed a job at a company specializing in engine boring. Kim had previously worked in construction and welding before retiring, and secured the new position after completing four months of hands-on training.

According to Statistics Korea, the average age at which salaried workers leave their primary jobs is 52.9 — creating a potential income gap of up to 10 years before they become eligible for national pension benefits at age 63 to 65. Korea Polytechnic University operates the mid-career program at 40 campuses nationwide to address this gap, with all tuition provided free of charge.

The program runs in two formats: a four-month long-term course (480 hours) and an intensive one-to-two-month course (120 to 240 hours). Recruitment for the second-half long-term course runs from late June through late July, while the intensive courses will accept applicants on a rolling basis by campus through October.