Starting Next Year, Vulnerable Groups to Receive 3 Million KRW Job-Seeking Allowance... "Supporting Over 500,000 People in 2022"

50 Million Won per Month for 6 Months... 50% Median Income and Assets Within 300 Million Won
System to be Implemented from January Next Year... 400,000 People to Receive Job-Seeking Allowance
Mandatory Job-Seeking Activities... Participation Restricted for 5 Years in Case of Fraudulent Receipt

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Next year, up to 400,000 vulnerable job seekers will receive a job-seeking allowance of 500,000 KRW per month for up to six months.

On the 14th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the legislative notice for the enforcement decree and enforcement rules of the "Act on the Promotion of Employment for Job Seekers and Support for Living Stability," the legal basis for the National Employment Support System.

The draft contains specific standards for implementing the National Employment Support System.

Starting January next year, the National Employment Support System will provide vulnerable job seekers such as low-income individuals, youth, and women with career interruptions a job-seeking promotion allowance of 500,000 KRW per person per month for six months, along with customized employment support services.

Known as the "Korean-style unemployment assistance," this system will serve as a second employment safety net to cover blind spots in employment insurance. Unlike employment insurance programs based on subscribers' premiums, this system pays allowances using government funds.

According to the draft enforcement decree and rules, recipients of the National Employment Support System must be between 15 and 64 years old and meet the income requirement of 50% or less of the median income (880,000 KRW per month for a single-person household this year). Assets must not exceed 300 million KRW.

In principle, recipients must have at least 100 days or 800 hours of employment experience within the last two years. This is a measure to exclude those who intend to receive allowances without a genuine job-seeking intention.

For youth aged 18 to 34, selective support will be provided up to 120% of the median income, considering the special employment circumstances. Those without employment experience, such as youth, will be supported based on labor market conditions and the necessity of support.

The Ministry of Employment estimates that 400,000 people will receive the job-seeking promotion allowance in the first year of the National Employment Support System's implementation next year. In 2022, this will be expanded to "500,000 plus alpha."

Recipients of the job-seeking allowance must diligently engage in job-seeking activities according to the plan submitted to the government. If they violate this more than three times, their right to receive the allowance will be terminated. If fraudulent receipt is detected, they will be barred from participating in the National Employment Support System for five years.

The scope of job-seeking activities that recipients must fulfill is broadly recognized. Activities can include attending vocational training, attending interviews, preparing for self-employment, and improving expertise in specific fields.

The draft also specifies the employment support services provided by the National Employment Support System.

Job seekers participating in the National Employment Support System can receive not only vocational training and job placement services provided by the existing employment support project "Employment Success Package" but also linked welfare services such as financial and childcare support. Participation in work experience programs similar to internships is also possible.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.