As South Korean youth exit restaurant jobs, foreign students step in

SEOUL - As young South Koreans increasingly avoid part-time service jobs, international students are filling the gap, working in restaurants across South Korea to keep kitchens running and dining rooms staffed.

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Despite wages that can reach 15,000 won (S$13) per hour, employers say it is harder than ever to hire local workers to fill roles like waiting tables or assisting in kitchens. Instead, part-time job listings are drawing students from abroad, many of whom are juggling their studies with shifts in cafes, eateries and barbecue joints.

Recent figures from the Ministry of Data and Statistics show a notable rise in foreign workers in the food and hospitality sectors, climbing from 107,000 in 2022 to 131,000 in 2024, up 22.4 per cent.