The Resurgence of Vocational High Schools in South Korea

Gwangju Technical High School (광주공고) in Gwangju's Buk-gu district has initiated evening self-study sessions for the first time since its establishment, providing students with dinner as they study for various certifications late into the night. The school remains lit past 9 PM, filled with hundreds of students preparing for qualifications, a rare occurrence for vocational high schools (직업계고).

After struggling for years with declining enrollment due to population decreases and societal biases against vocational education, Gwangju Technical High School has seen a remarkable turnaround this year, with 160 applicants for its 144 spots. Principal Park Tae-ho noted that the school's atmosphere has shifted towards a more academic focus since around two years ago, as students increasingly recognize the value of acquiring competitive technical skills over merely obtaining a college degree. Half of the first-year students have already earned at least one national technical certification within three months of enrollment.

This trend reflects a growing interest among younger generations in production jobs, leading to a revival of vocational high schools across South Korea. In cities like Gwangju, Daegu, and Incheon, an unusual number of applicants have led to a phenomenon where students who are not accepted into vocational schools are opting for general high schools instead. Analysts suggest that a 'blue-collar bonanza' is emerging in South Korea, similar to trends seen in the U.S. and Europe, where Generation Z (born from the mid-1990s to early 2000s) is gravitating towards skilled trades.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, for the 2025 academic year, 2,271 students applied for 1,815 spots in vocational high schools, resulting in 456 students being turned away, many of whom then enrolled in general high schools. This marks a significant change from previous years when vocational schools often struggled to fill their quotas. The perception that graduating from a vocational high school can lead to quicker access to quality jobs has contributed to this shift in popularity.

In Daegu, the 2025 enrollment for vocational high schools saw 4,840 applicants for 3,618 spots, leading to a similar trend of students moving to general high schools after being rejected. Incheon also reported a high demand, with 5,271 applicants for 4,524 spots. In Seoul, vocational high schools recorded a 94.7% enrollment rate this year, a notable increase from 84.4% five years ago.

Professor Bae Young-chan from Hanyang University commented that the high college admission rates have led to employment challenges and mismatches in the labor market, which, combined with recent economic downturns, has heightened interest in high-paying blue-collar jobs. He expressed hope that this could signal a turning point in the distorted social structure created by elitism in education.