The first generation of Koreans who went abroad to study as young children have started returning. About 10,000 primary and secondary school students went abroad between 1994, when restrictions were lifted, and 1999, when the Asia-wide financial crisis ended. And now they are coming back.

With the help of an expert group, a Chosun Ilbo special team over the last two months interviewed 100 graduates who had gone abroad to study at an early age and interviewed 100 personnel officers at domestic and foreign enterprises.

It found that 60 out of 100 such students have found jobs in Korea, with 24 landing jobs abroad, four continuing to study at home and abroad, and 12 still seeking future courses while preparing to find work.

Most found jobs in banking. Of the 60 students who found jobs in the country, 20 landed jobs in financial institutions. They are followed by employees of 30 medium-to-large enterprises (11), the big 30 conglomerates (11), English-language schools (four), foreign companies (two), those who started their own business (three), and others (nine).

Of the 24 who found jobs overseas, eight went into banking, followed by foreign businesses (seven), their own business (four), and others (five).

Most said they had been motivated to study at Ivy League universities and become financial experts on Wall Street. But only 10 of the 100 were actually admitted to Ivy League universities. Their average annual salary is slightly higher than that of those who never left the country, but far short of the cost of their education or the income they expected when they left.

Meanwhile, employer satisfaction with these students was lower than expected. Some 59 percent of 100 personnel affairs officers in domestic and foreign companies said their satisfaction level was "average." And when asked if they plan to recruit more such students, 64 percent said no. A mere 36 percent of respondents said they would recruit more of such students.