The ministry said it will use 78.6 billion won from this year’s supplementary budget to reach young people who have been hard to cover under existing rules. Under the current program, applicants must meet income and asset requirements and also show prior work experience, which has excluded youth without a job history.
The government said it is expanding access to boost job-search motivation and ease financial burdens for young people preparing for employment. Applications are being accepted at employment centers nationwide and on the Employment24 website. Eligible applicants are ages 15 to 34, with up to three years added for time spent fulfilling mandatory military service. The program may close early once 30,000 applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those selected will receive the same level of support as existing participants, the ministry said. They will be paid a “Job-Seeking Promotion Allowance” of 600,000 won a month for six months, along with tailored employment services such as one-on-one in-depth counseling, an individualized job-search plan, and links to vocational training and work-experience programs. For those at or below 60% of the median income, an employment success bonus will also be paid, with up to 1.5 million won available for long-term employment.
Lim Young-mi, the ministry’s director general for employment policy, said the additional selection through the supplementary budget “will serve as a practical ladder” for young people struggling in a difficult job market, and urged active participation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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