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Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Weekender] Why more Koreans are becoming side hustlers
Money matters the most, but hope of career change also drives the trend Kim Sol-nim, 33, writes blogs for hospitals and law firms after returning home from her main job at around 6 p.m. She spends one to four hours daily on side work, earning between 600,000 won and 800,000 won ($430-$575) per month as extra income. She used to run an Airbnb and gave weekend lectures related to her current job in insurance in the past. Now, she is preparing a pet furniture design business with friends. This does not mean that she plans to quit her main job anytime soon. Her main job provides health insurance, retirement benefits and job stability, which are benefits she is unsure her freelancing income can offer long-term. Kim considers herself an 'N-jobber" — someone who has or is seeking to have multiple jobs. 'The biggest reason for having side jobs is money," she told The Korea Herald. "My salary from my main job is not insufficient for my living expenses, but it's nowhere near enough to buy a house in Seoul." She is one of many South Koreans who are taking on, or considering taking on, side hustles. For those interviewed by The Korea Herald, money was the top motivator, but workers also cited a desire to try new things and discover what they truly enjoy. Experts say the trend is likely to accelerate amid soaring prices and growing job instability — a shift partly driven by rapid technological changes, including the rise of artificial intelligence. Money matters the most Multiple surveys have shown that a growing number of salaried Koreans are engaging in side hustles. According to a survey by the local classifieds outlet Flea Market in August, 82.1 percent of 1,327 salaried workers said they were either doing or considering side jobs. The top reason was low salaries (55.1 percent), and the most popular type of work was social media content creation, such as blogging or YouTube (20.2 percent), with average earnings of about 620,000 won per month. A separate report by KB Financial Group in November found that 54.8 percent of 2,000 salaried workers were engaged in side jobs — up 12.8 percentage points from the same survey in 2022. The most common reasons included saving for emergencies (38.7 percent), using spare time (18.7 percent) and covering living expenses (13.2 percent). Like Kim, many salaried workers find it hard to survive in Seoul, where consumer prices are high and housing costs are skyrocketing. The average price of an apartment unit in July was 1.46 billion won, according to Real Estate 114. The average Seoul worker's annual salary is around 48 million won. In a simple calculation, even saving an entire salary for 30 years would barely be enough to buy a home. Lily, who asked to be identified only by her English name, also juggles multiple side hustles. In her 30s, she has tried blogging, food delivery on foot and leading online group activities like book clubs through platforms such as Trevari. 'When I saw people earn a lot of money through stocks and coins, I always regretted not doing the same,' she said. 'But I don't have the courage to take that kind of risk. So I began having side jobs.' 'My main job is stable, but wage increases are minimal. Instead of switching jobs, I started side hustles,' she said. Career transition Some also take on side jobs to safely transition from an unsatisfying main occupation to another job they truly enjoy. A 37-year-old engineer at one of Korea's top conglomerates — who writes under the pseudonym Amtun on the blogging platform Brunch — has tried several side hustles over the years. 'I worked really hard, but one day I had a reality check,' she said. 'I was running fast in the corporate race, but I was hit by a sense of emptiness. It made me question whether spending my time like this was really worth it. So I began to let go of the company a little and started looking for a better work-life balance.' She bought an 80 million-won fixer-upper in Gangwon Province and converted it into an Airbnb. 'I love traveling, and I always enjoyed staying in Airbnbs overseas,' she said. 'I only take one team every two days, and I let them check out late in the afternoon.' Living in Seoul, she hired someone to clean the property and handled only the reservations herself. She earned about 7 to 8 million won a year from it until recently, when she gave birth to her first child. 'This was something I truly enjoyed and found meaningful, so I didn't feel as tired. I used to run a blog and act as a proxy for overseas shopping orders, but those felt like having a second full-time job.' She said she would consider quitting her day job if her side hustle income grew. 'Running an Airbnb offers more than just income. It gives people a space to rest and connect. That means something to me.' Lee Byung-hoon, honorary professor of sociology at Chung-Ang University, said the phenomenon stems from both financial and cultural factors. 'First, people take on side jobs because they are dissatisfied with the income or meaning they get from their main job and want to prepare for something new,' he said. 'Second, people no longer see their main jobs as lifelong careers. They're mentally prepared to leave when the time feels right.' Lee also pointed to deeper societal roots. 'Korea's education system doesn't help people figure out what they enjoy. So many only start asking those questions after they've entered the workforce,' he said. From an employer's standpoint, this trend may not reflect ideal work ethics, Lee noted. 'Companies want their employees to rest after hours." However, the trend is expected to accelerate. Unlike in the 20th century, jobs today are less secure and are disrupted by advances like AI. More people will likely move around based on job opportunities instead of staying with one company for life, he said. According to The Korea Herald's analysis of microdata from Statistics Korea's Economically Active Population Survey, 677,300 people said they had worked a side job in the past week as of June — a 35 percent jump from 498,440 in June 2015. shinjh@
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'40 years of tradition' ending: Flea Market Tallahassee closing
After more than four decades, the Flea Market Tallahassee is closing up shop. "We want to thank all our patrons and vendors for the last 41 years! It is with a heavy heart we must announce that Flea Market Tallahassee will be closing on July 27th," market owners wrote on Facebook. "We appreciate everyone's patience as we prepare for closing." The market, which operated at 5353 Capital Circle SW for its entire run, took a heavy blow in late January when a freak winter storm that brought 2 inches of sleet, snow and ice to the capital collapsed the roof over numerous vendor booths. The market was able to reopen in a limited capacity within a couple of weeks and got to work over the coming months demolishing the impacted areas so they could reopen more space for vendors. But the damage was done, and now what's become a weekend tradition for many Tallahasseeans will end. According to the market's website before the storm, "each weekend thousands of visitors drop by our market to visit the close to 400 vendors on site." Jami Robinson, longtime assistant manager of the market, told the Democrat in an interview Saturday that the longtime owner, employees, vendors and shoppers were "very sad." "After the storm and January, we just sustained, so much damage the rebuild was just not possible," she said. "The owners really tried to see if we could make it work." She said even the reopened spaces were a difficult sell because they were in open air stalls in the scorching Tallahassee summer heat. She said the decision to close wasn't made lightly and that they are offering vendors that have been there since the beginning a 50% discount on the weekly rents. "Our kids have grown up here," she said. "We've watched our vendors' kids grow up here." "This is income for a lot of people here," she continued. "Some are getting Social Security and retired, and this puts extra money in their pockets. It's 40 years of tradition." As for the future of the market site, Robinson said "nothing is set in stone." The Southside Storage component of the market will remain open and could be expanded. "As of right now we are waiting to see what our owner is going to do," she said. "We don't know how things will pan out for the future." As news of the closure spread, residents reacted with sadness on social media. "Oh no!! This is heartbreaking," one person wrote on Facebook. "I've been going since it opened and still go faithfully at least once a month if not more. I was just there last weekend and the vibe was so fun and there were so many different vendors." "Many many memories and great purchases out there," another wrote. "Long Live Tallahassee Flea Market." "Tallahassee is slowly losing everything that made it so special and cool," still another wrote. William Hatfield is editor of the Tallahassee Democrat. Email him at whatfield@ This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Flea Market Tallahassee closing months after Florida winter storm
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Flea market opens today at local drive-in
GREENVILLE, Pa. (WKBN) — The Flea Market returns to the Reynold's Drive In and will be happening every Sunday through September. It's from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Sunday and is free to attend. If you want to be a vendor at the flea, you did have to arrive at 7 a.m. this morning to set up. The good news is you have another opportunity next Sunday, May 25. Plus, the Drive-In is running a May special, so it only costs you $5 to be a vendor for the month of May. You can take up as much space as you need. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Your Hometown: Vicksburg celebrates Bicentennial
VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV) – The River City is celebrating its bicentennial in 2025. The Bicentennial Music & Culture Festival will be held on Saturday, April 26 in downtown Vicksburg. This event is free and open to the public. The festival will feature live music, local performers, guest speakers, and culminating with the Mississippi Metropolis Fashion Show at Levee Street Warehouse. In addition, a cooking demonstration at the Catfish Row Museum and sidewalk sales with Vicksburg Main Street merchants are planned. The festival is in conjunction with the Key City Classic, Alcorn State University Jazz Festival, Key City 7th Anniversary Celebration, and the Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen Pageant. The Vicksburg Trolley will run from Washington Street Park, Crawford Square, and the Old Court House Flea Market event grounds. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum holds annual easter egg hunt
WESTON, (WBOY) — Coming off a night of severe storms in the northern part of the state, hundreds of children and families took advantage of the clearer skies and spent their Easter Sunday afternoon at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (TALA) for its 15th annual Easter egg hunt. Michelle Graham, the filming and events manager at TALA, told 12 News that about 10,000 eggs were scattered around the lawn for the event. Children were separated into different areas and age ranges and rushed to pick up as many eggs as they could when the horn sounded off at 1 p.m. 'We're such a beautiful historic landmark here in Weston, West Virginia, we want people to come here and feel like they are a part of this community hub, just like it was when it was in operation,' Graham said. Easter Party held at Clarksburg City Park Although one of the largest events at the asylum, TALA is hosting several more community events throughout the year on top of its usual schedule of paranormal and historic tours. Mother's Day special on May 11 Father's Day car show on June 15 Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Flea Market from Aug. 1 through Aug. 3 You can find the asylum's full schedule of events and tours here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
