InitComponent::setSiteInfo() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/components/init.php, line 108
AppController::beforeFilter() - APP/app_controller.php, line 73
NewspapersController::beforeFilter() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 18
Controller::startupProcess() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/libs/controller/controller.php, line 522
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 188
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
Notice (8): Undefined variable: site_domain [CORE/lib.times/controllers/components/init.php, line 117]
InitComponent::setSiteInfo() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/components/init.php, line 117
AppController::beforeFilter() - APP/app_controller.php, line 73
NewspapersController::beforeFilter() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 18
Controller::startupProcess() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/libs/controller/controller.php, line 522
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 188
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
Notice (8): Undefined index: [CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 211]
$params = array(
"conditions" => array(
"Article.open_flag" => 1,
"Article.open_datetime <= " => "2026-03-12 06:07:47"
),
"fields" => array(
"ArticleSection.id",
"ArticleSection.code",
"ArticleSection.name",
"ArticleSection.context",
"Article.no",
"Article.title",
"Article.context_text",
"Article.level",
"Article.open_datetime",
"Article.academy"
),
"order" => array(
"Article.no" => "DESC"
)
)
$data = array(
"ArticleSection" => array(
"id" => "13",
"code" => "news_2",
"name" => "National News",
"context" => ""
),
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838"
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
NewspapersController::index() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 211
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 205
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
Notice (8): Undefined index: [CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 212]
$params = array(
"conditions" => array(
"Article.open_flag" => 1,
"Article.open_datetime <= " => "2026-03-12 06:07:47"
),
"fields" => array(
"ArticleSection.id",
"ArticleSection.code",
"ArticleSection.name",
"ArticleSection.context",
"Article.no",
"Article.title",
"Article.context_text",
"Article.level",
"Article.open_datetime",
"Article.academy"
),
"order" => array(
"Article.no" => "DESC"
)
)
$data = array(
"ArticleSection" => array(
"id" => "13",
"code" => "news_2",
"name" => "National News",
"context" => ""
),
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838",
"cover" => "/def.jpg"
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
NewspapersController::index() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 212
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 205
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
Notice (8): Undefined index: [CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 238]
$params = array(
"order" => array(
"ArticleSection.page" => "ASC",
"ArticleSection.sort_key" => "ASC"
),
"conditions" => array(
"Article.no" => "1118",
"Article.open_flag" => 1,
"ArticleSection.view_flag" => 1,
"Article.article_section_id <> " => 39,
"Article.open_datetime <= " => "2026-03-12 06:07:47"
),
"fields" => array(
"Article.no",
"Article.title",
"ArticleSection.app_code",
"Article.guide",
"Article.context_text",
"Article.level",
"Article.open_flag",
"ArticleSection.name",
"ArticleSection.enie_flag",
"ArticleSection.def_img",
"Article.academy"
)
)
$data = array(
"ArticleSection" => array(
"id" => "13",
"code" => "news_2",
"name" => "National News",
"context" => ""
),
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838",
"cover" => "/def.jpg"
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
$list = array()
$size = 230
$val = array(
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"guide" => "",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_flag" => "1",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838"
),
"ArticleSection" => array(
"app_code" => "national",
"name" => "National News",
"enie_flag" => "0",
"def_img" => ""
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
$key = 0
NewspapersController::index() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 238
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 205
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
Notice (8): Undefined index: [CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 241]
$params = array(
"order" => array(
"ArticleSection.page" => "ASC",
"ArticleSection.sort_key" => "ASC"
),
"conditions" => array(
"Article.no" => "1118",
"Article.open_flag" => 1,
"ArticleSection.view_flag" => 1,
"Article.article_section_id <> " => 39,
"Article.open_datetime <= " => "2026-03-12 06:07:47"
),
"fields" => array(
"Article.no",
"Article.title",
"ArticleSection.app_code",
"Article.guide",
"Article.context_text",
"Article.level",
"Article.open_flag",
"ArticleSection.name",
"ArticleSection.enie_flag",
"ArticleSection.def_img",
"Article.academy"
)
)
$data = array(
"ArticleSection" => array(
"id" => "13",
"code" => "news_2",
"name" => "National News",
"context" => ""
),
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838",
"cover" => "/def.jpg"
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
$list = array()
$size = 230
$val = array(
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"guide" => "",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_flag" => "1",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838"
),
"ArticleSection" => array(
"app_code" => "national",
"name" => "National News",
"enie_flag" => "0",
"def_img" => ""
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
$key = 0
NewspapersController::index() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 241
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 205
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
Notice (8): Undefined index: [CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 247]
$params = array(
"order" => array(
"ArticleSection.page" => "ASC",
"ArticleSection.sort_key" => "ASC"
),
"conditions" => array(
"Article.no" => "1118",
"Article.open_flag" => 1,
"ArticleSection.view_flag" => 1,
"Article.article_section_id <> " => 39,
"Article.open_datetime <= " => "2026-03-12 06:07:47"
),
"fields" => array(
"Article.no",
"Article.title",
"ArticleSection.app_code",
"Article.guide",
"Article.context_text",
"Article.level",
"Article.open_flag",
"ArticleSection.name",
"ArticleSection.enie_flag",
"ArticleSection.def_img",
"Article.academy"
)
)
$data = array(
"ArticleSection" => array(
"id" => "13",
"code" => "news_2",
"name" => "National News",
"context" => ""
),
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838",
"cover" => "/def.jpg"
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
$list = array(
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
)
)
$size = 230
$val = array(
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "RE: I Ruined My Hair!",
"guide" => "",
"context_text" => "Dear Jane,
OMG, I totally messed up my hair. I was sitting in the salon chair and accidentally dozed off for a second. It happened just as the hairdresser was cutting the left side of the hair. When I woke up, the left side was much shorter than the right. I had no choice but to have the rest cut short to even it out. Now my hairstyle looks nothing like what I wanted, and I feel really embarrassed. Do you think it’ll look better after a while?
Talk soon,
Peter
Dear Peter,
Don’t worry so much. Hair always grows back, so this won’t last forever. A new haircut can feel strange at first, but people usually get used to it quickly. You might even end up liking it - short hair can look neat and fresh. Think of it as a fresh start or a chance to try something new.
Cheers,
Jane
",
"level" => "2",
"open_flag" => "1",
"academy" => "5557",
"id" => "15841"
),
"ArticleSection" => array(
"app_code" => "letter",
"name" => "Letter",
"enie_flag" => "0",
"def_img" => "def_letter.jpg"
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array(),
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
$key = 3
$app_enie = "enie_world_1118"
NewspapersController::index() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 247
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 205
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
Notice (8): Undefined index: [CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 328]
$params = array(
"conditions" => array(
"Article.article_section_id" => 14,
"Article.open_flag" => 1,
"Article.open_datetime <= " => "2026-03-12 06:07:47",
"Article.open_datetime BETWEEN ? AND ?" => array()
),
"fields" => array(
"Article.no",
"Article.open_datetime"
),
"order" => array(
"Article.open_datetime" => "ASC"
),
"recursive" => 0
)
$data = array(
"ArticleSection" => array(
"id" => "13",
"code" => "news_2",
"name" => "National News",
"context" => ""
),
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838",
"cover" => "/def.jpg"
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
$list = array(
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
)
)
$size = 230
$val = array(
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"id" => "15839"
)
)
$key = 0
$app_enie = "enie_think_1118"
$this_month = "2026-03"
$prev_month = "2026-02"
$next_month = "2026-04"
$nos = array(
"prev" => "2026-02",
"next" => "2026-04",
"year" => "2026",
"month" => "03"
)
NewspapersController::index() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 328
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 205
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
Notice (8): Undefined index: [CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 329]
$params = array(
"conditions" => array(
"Article.article_section_id" => 14,
"Article.open_flag" => 1,
"Article.open_datetime <= " => "2026-03-12 06:07:47",
"Article.open_datetime BETWEEN ? AND ?" => array()
),
"fields" => array(
"Article.no",
"Article.open_datetime"
),
"order" => array(
"Article.open_datetime" => "ASC"
),
"recursive" => 0
)
$data = array(
"ArticleSection" => array(
"id" => "13",
"code" => "news_2",
"name" => "National News",
"context" => ""
),
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"title" => "Korean Vocational Colleges Widen Job Market Lead",
"context_text" => "A profound shift is occurring in South Korea’s hyper-competitive education landscape as students increasingly prioritize “employability” over the prestige of a four-year degree. This trend peaked during the 2026 admissions cycle, when competition for metropolitan vocational colleges surged to 12.47 to 1, nearly double the rate of the previous year.
The driving force behind this rush is a widening performance gap in the labor market. According to a Jongro Academy analysis released on Feb. 1, the employment rate for the nation’s 129 junior colleges rose to 70.9%, giving them a 9.1 percentage point lead over traditional universities. This represents the largest disparity in a decade, signaling that the specialized certifications and technical training offered by vocational schools are becoming the preferred currency for recruiters.
The divide is particularly stark outside of the capital. In rural provinces, vocational college graduates enjoyed an employment rate of 73.2%, overtaking that of their four-year counterparts (59.9%). While university students often face long-term unemployment while holding out for “top-tier” corporate roles in Seoul, vocational students are successfully entering the workforce through direct-to-job training.
As the youth job crisis persists, the 2026 data confirms a new reality: for many South Koreans, a practical two-year license is now seen as a more valuable asset than a traditional diploma.
",
"level" => "1",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"academy" => "5555",
"id" => "15838",
"cover" => "/def.jpg"
),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(
array()
),
"ArticleQuestion" => array(
array(),
array(),
array(),
array(),
array()
)
)
$list = array(
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
),
array(
"Article" => array(),
"ArticleSection" => array(),
"Video" => array(),
"ArticleImg" => array(),
"ArticleQuestion" => array()
)
)
$size = 230
$val = array(
"Article" => array(
"no" => "1118",
"open_datetime" => "2026-03-06 00:00:00",
"id" => "15839",
"cover" => "/def.jpg"
)
)
$key = 0
$app_enie = "enie_think_1118"
$this_month = "2026-03"
$prev_month = "2026-02"
$next_month = "2026-04"
$nos = array(
"prev" => "2026-02",
"next" => "2026-04",
"year" => "2026",
"month" => "03"
)
NewspapersController::index() - CORE/lib.times/controllers/newspapers_controller.php, line 329
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 205
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88
include - CORE/lib.times/views/newspapers/index.ctp, line 4
View::_render() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/libs/view/view.php, line 736
View::render() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/libs/view/view.php, line 431
Controller::render() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/libs/controller/controller.php, line 909
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 208
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake-1.3.18/dispatcher.php, line 172
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 88