Why there are so many fried chicken shops in Korea?

Fried and roasted chicken is an overdone culinary craze in South Korea.
Korean consumers can’t keep up with the explosion of shops dedicated to Korea's favorite meat, and that could mean the country is facing a fried chicken bubble.

In september, 2013, South Korean officials ordered that restaurant franchises are no longer allowed to open two restaurants within 800 metres of each other. Fried chicken restaurants are a particular target, because around 7,400 are opened in the country every year.

Every year in South Korea around 5,000 chicken shops go out of business, which policy-makers fear is contributing to the country’s rising household debt.

Many baby boomers (ages 55 to 64) retired during last few years and they tend to open small business like chicken joint or coffe shop in Korea hoping to make steady income after their retirement because they can't rely on government
South Korea's government has been slow to provide a safety net. Only a third of retirees have pensions, and the payouts are relatively paltry, analysts say.
In a fast-paced nation famous for its high achievers and its big spending on private tutors and luxury goods, half of  Korea's elderly are poor, the highest rate in the industrialised world.

Also if someone falls out of employment due to whatever reason or fails to be employed at a proper company while they're still in their prime, it's next to impossible for them to get back in the game again. Given how competitive Korea is and the lack of proper welfare, opening a small business/working for one is the only option many can see unless they're clever and can come up with some other way to make money.

number of chicken shops in Korea per major cities