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"Pushed Out at an Average Age of 52.9"… The Cruel Re-employment History of Breadwinners in Their 40s and 50s, and the Truth Revealed by Statistics
According to a survey by Byuluck Market, the re-employment rate among those with retirement experience stood at just 51.8%, and their expected average monthly income upon re-employment was 2.904 million won—14.5% lower than their earnings at their primary jobs (3.395 million won). Middle-aged specialty media outlets and labor market analysts suggest that the rise in the "resting" middle-aged population may not simply reflect early retirement, but rather the outcome of failed re-employment and job mismatches. The fact that the top reason cited for leaving a primary job in supplementary statistics for older adults is business stagnation, suspension of operations, or closure (25.0%) implies that self-employment is becoming another exit route rather than an alternative to failed re-employment.
강지혜 선임기자 · 06/11/2026
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KBR Research Notes
One in Three Imported Cars is a Tesla: The 'EV Craze' Rocking the 2026 Auto Market
김민경 책임기자 · 06/09/2026
KBR Research Notes
"Searches Increased, But Clicks Disappeared": The 20-Year Traffic Economy Shaken by Zero-Click
이태민 책임기자 · 06/08/2026
KBR Research Notes
Retirement Age for 40s and 50s is Accelerating — The Shock of the 60-Year Legal Retirement Age vs. the Reality of Retirement at 52.9
KBR 편집부 · 05/10/2026
KBR Research Notes
Where Do Startup Funds Ultimately Flow? A Complete Anatomy of Labor Costs, R&D, and AI Infrastructure
KBR 편집부 · 05/07/2026
KBR Research Notes
Kia Surpasses Hyundai for the First Time in 28 Years in Domestic Sales... Tesla Era Begins for Imported Cars
Kia recorded its highest-ever first-quarter sales in the global market in the first quarter of 2026, breaking into the 4% range for the first time with a 4.1% global market share. A major shift in the market landscape: Two 'historical events' in the spring of 2026 simultaneously set two historical records in the domestic automobile market.
강지혜 기자 · 05/07/2026
KBR Research Notes
The Era of 1.16 Million One-Person Businesses: Becoming a Company All by Yourself
Over the past decade, the formula for starting a business was simple: you needed a team, investors, and an office. That formula is now quietly but rapidly breaking down. People who build, operate, and create billions of won in enterprise value entirely on their own are beginning to appear in official statistics.
이지영 기자 · 05/06/2026
KBR Research Notes
April 2026: The Boardroom in Motion — A Comprehensive Analysis of Global and Domestic CEO Succession Landscapes
April 2026 was a notably dense month from a corporate governance perspective. Apple announced a CEO change for the first time in 15 years, and the new CEO of global energy major BP embarked on a massive restructuring from day one. Domestically, the KT board of directors undertook an unprecedented regulatory amendment to return its own powers.
박소유 기자 · 04/29/2026
KBR Research Notes
First-Grade Elementary Students Fall Below 300,000 for the First Time: The National School Map is Being Redrawn
The premise of education has been altered by a single number. For the first time in history, the number of national elementary school first-grade entrants for the 2026 academic year has dropped below 300,000. According to the '2025 Elementary, Middle, and High School Student Population Estimation Correction Results (2026–2031)' released by the Ministry of Education, the number of first-grade students nationwide for the 2026 academic year is projected at 298,178, marking the first time the figure has fallen under the 300,000 threshold.
이태민 기자 · 04/27/2026
KBR Research Notes
Chicken Headquarters Hit All-Time Highs While Franchises Face Negative Growth: The Two Faces of the Chicken Industry Through April 2026 Data
The daily reality of chicken franchises. In 2025, when the combined sales of the top three headquarters exceeded 1.6 trillion won for the first time, the number of chicken franchises decreased for the first time according to the Fair Trade Commission. An average of 2.1 employees per franchise, 41 million won in differential franchise fees, and up to 29.3% in delivery commissions define the reality of these kitchens.
박소유 기자 · 04/23/2026
