Korea is seeing a shift in education.
Hitting the beaten track of cram schools and other means to ensure acceptance in top universities
may soon become a thing of the past.
These days, students are turning to vocational school and more unconventional studies, including
zoology and drone production, to pick up practical skills that could help them prepare for their
careers early.
For our news feature tonight...
Lee Ji-won zooms in on this wind of change.
Jumping hurdles, going through a tunnel and jumping through a hoop.
This is an agility training session for show dogs... and it's one of the classes available
from the Pet Science Department of Seoul Yonhee Technical College, which offers associate
degrees in zoology and other veterinary careers.
The classroom is filled with people from all walks of life -- from fresh high school graduates...
to people seeking second careers -- hoping to fulfill their dream of working with animals.
"I applied for this major because I like animals... and I can gain expertise.
Plus, there are more people raising pets, so I think the market will expand."
More Korean students are choosing unusual majors -- from K-pop star studies, where students
train to be in the spotlight, to wedding planning, where students learn the nuts and bolts of
the business.
Behind this trend is increase in vocational school enrollment, as students seek practical
skills that will lead them to a job right after graduation.
For example, one of the Pet Science classes teaches students how to care for rare pets,
including reptiles, on their way to becoming zookeepers.
"Before coming to this college, I didn't know much about rare animals.
But this major has taught me a lot about them, and I think it's very useful toward helping
me become a zookeeper."
"I want to open a reptile cafe in the future.
It wasn't easy to find or interact with reptiles in Korea because they aren't very popular,
but I'm so glad I can learn about them here."
At another school, students gathered outside after their first drone class, where they'll
get a full education in building and flying drones.
"It was really fun I don't think I've ever been this excited for something in my whole
life."
The classes are filled with enthusiastic people seeking jobs in drone production, repair and
operation.
"I'm interested in the actual building and repairing of drones, as well as playing around
with the software.
There's so much potential for drones in various markets, including rescue work,... and I wanted
to play a part."
Professors who teach the classes say the public's growing interest in subjects like these has
given rise to new markets or an expansion of existing ones, as well as a growing demand
for experts.
"Demand for drone experts is really high, especially in the entertainment industry.
But there aren't that many experts in the market, so we are preparing our students so
they can start working right after graduating."
The hope is that these kinds of training programs can help lift the country's high unemployment
rate.
"Employers like to hire people who are skilled enough to go into the work force right away.
And because these colleges give students a practical education, on top of the theoretical
studies, students graduating with majors like these usually find jobs relatively easily."
But for vocational schools and their unique fields of study to develop beyond a niche
market, and have a lasting impact on the Korean job market, experts say that society will
have to eliminate existing prejudices against nontraditional education.
"It's become the norm for Koreans to send their children to four-year universities because
people want stable jobs at big companies or public enterprises.
But now, there's a wider range of jobs available and a variety of majors that teach students
about them."
So instead of chasing after what everyone is doing, the expert said people should really
follow their own interests, because the decision will bring them greater job satisfaction in
the long-run.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.