The number of unemployed youths who gave up seeking jobs hit a record high last month.
 
According to Statistics Korea on Thursday, one-point-72 million South Koreans were outside the work force and didn't seek jobs in November, up 219-thousand from a year earlier. 
 
It marks the largest November tally since the nation started compiling related data in 2003. 
 
Of the total, 284-thousand were young people in their 20s, which is also the largest November figure.
 
The unemployment rate for young people, aged between 15 and 29, came to nine-point-two percent last month, up one percentage point from a year earlier. The real jobless rate for young people reached 21-point-four percent. 
 
The two rates both marked the highest November figures since the nation started compiling related data.