54% of Young Adults Struggle with Living Expenses, Nearly Half of Businesses Feel Management Strain

A recent survey reveals that 54% of young adults have struggled to cover their living expenses over the past year. As the financial health of young people deteriorates, the average monthly balance rolled over by those using credit card revolving services reaches 3.26 million won, with 20% carrying over more than 5 million won. The average interest rate for card revolving is 17.3%. Furthermore, 82% of young people experiencing loan defaults are in long-term delinquency, with arrears exceeding 90 days.

Economic difficulties are compounding, with nearly half of companies reporting increased operational burdens due to the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which imposes stricter penalties on employers or management for severe industrial accidents. In a survey of 517 companies with 50 or more employees, 49.9% cited the Serious Accidents Punishment Act as the most burdensome regulation.

The economic participation rate of men aged 25-34 fell from 89.9% in 2000 to 82.3% in 2025, falling below the OECD average.