top of page

Young South Koreans Turning to Crypto out of Desperation, Not Belief

  • Writer: Sammy Salmela
    Sammy Salmela
  • Jun 21
  • 2 min read
South Korea youth trading crypto out of economic desperation

Article with AI Analysis:

Date: 20 June 2025

Source: Adrian Zmudzinski via Cointelegraph


Introduction

In a recent panel at German Blockchain Week, a South Korean expert revealed how many young people in the country are diving into cryptocurrency not because they trust blockchain, but because they feel cornered by a struggling economy and dwindling opportunities.


Economic Pressure Driving Crypto Hype

Crypto exchange users in South Korea now exceed 16 million over 30 % of the population. Yet expert Eli Ilha Yune, CPO at Anzaetek, emphasises that this isn’t true belief in Web3. For many, “there are a lot of crypto traders in Korea,” he said, driven not by optimism but by dire financial need and the desire for quick returns.


Youth Disillusioned: Low Returns and High Costs

South Korea’s youth unemployment stood at 6.6 % in May 2025 more than double the national average of 2.7 %. With stock returns underwhelming and property prices in Seoul having doubled to over 1 billion won (~ $689,000), many young adults cannot afford rent or a mortgage.


Crypto Seen as the Only Outlet

As Yune put it:

“They cannot buy houses anymore, or even the rent is too high for them. So their only option is to do crypto.” He added that most of these traders lack real understanding of blockchain, treating crypto as a financial gamble, not technological advancement.

AI‑Powered Sentiment Analysis

Our AI analysis reveals the emotional tone behind this story:

  • Sentiment Score: -0.65 — reflects a generally negative outlook

  • Financial Sentiment: 0.2 — slight positive bias toward crypto context

  • Polarity Score: 0.096 — mostly neutral with minor positive undertones

  • Subjectivity Score: 0.298 — moderately objective with some opinion


Interpretation: Overall tone is bleak, highlighting a serious socio‑economic problem. Despite a sliver of financial optimism, most young Koreans approach crypto out of necessity. The article leans more on facts than subjective viewpoints.


Read More

Explore more articles on Hikarinova Blog 


Want to Automate Your Trading?

Connect your own crypto or stock trading account (like Pionex) to our signal based trading bot - get real time buy and sell signals while staying in full control.


🟢 Your funds stay with your own exchange – we never touch them

🟢 No upfront costs – we only earn if you make a profit

🟢 Truly free to register 

🟢 Simple and secure onboarding


Curious? Register Your Interest!

We're currently start collecting interest from people who want to learn more about our upcoming automated trading service.

By signing up, you're simply letting us know you're curious. No commitment.

Later, we’ll send out a personalised invitation with all the details. Only then do you decide if the service is right for you.


Disclaimer

This article was generated using AI and reviewed for accuracy. The information presented is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Always consult with a professional before making investment decisions.

Comments


bottom of page