Transition to adulthood in South Korea : a case study of adolescents of lower class family

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study transition to adulthood of adolescents from National Basic Livelihood Security Program (NBLSP) recipient households, who are considered as lower class by focusing on the three issues: educational attainment, labor force participation and family formation.The influences of family relationship: husband – wife relationship and parents - children relationship, on shaping their transition to adulthood will also be studied. This study applied qualitative research method by the in-depth interview data of “Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood II (청년기에서 성인기로의 이행 과정 연구II)” from National Youth Policy Institute (NYPI, 한국 청소년 정책 연구원), South Korea. This research found that South Korean adolescents of lower class family tried to attend higher education in order to find a good and stable job when they enter labor force. Since economic status of their family is an important obstacle, they are only able to study in junior college (two years). During educational attainmet, they have to study and work at the same time or rely on loan for education related expenses. Due to family’s economic needs, these adolescents were forced to enter labor market quite early by working part – time jobs. However, in the aspect of full – time jobs, timing to attend labor force is extended due to prolonged educational period. As for the issue of family formation, these adolescents consider cohabitation positively. All of them want to get married but suitable age for marriage is delayed until they reached the age 25 – 30s when they have economic readiness. This group of adolescent plan to have more than 2 children when they get married.Besides, this research confirmed that family relationships of the adolescents of lower class family greatly affected the transition to adulthood, regarding family economic situation, social adapability and family formation.