Seongdong-gu Self-Support Job Project Opens 'Naeil Store 2nd Branch'

Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Job Convenience Store 'Seongdong Naeil Store' 2nd Branch Opens at Sindang Station...Creating Self-Sufficiency Jobs Through Private Company Cooperation, Planned Continuous Expansion After Business Performance Evaluation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) opened the second branch of the low-income self-sufficiency job convenience store ‘Seongdong Naeil Store’ on the 15th.

‘Naeil Store’ is a convenience store project promoted to provide jobs to low-income residents through the collaboration of Seongdong-gu, the local self-sufficiency center, and companies, under the motto “A happy tomorrow through my job.”

The first branch was opened at Gangnam Station on the Shinbundang Line last August, and eight low-income individuals, including basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty class with work ability, operate in four shifts from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day of the year.

Building on the successful operation of the first branch, the second branch was established inside Sindang Station on Line 6 with a budget of about 49 million won invested by the district and the Seongdong Regional Self-Sufficiency Center. A total of six people work in shifts of two, and some of the workers are temporarily dispatched from the first branch at Gangnam Station to assist operations, with plans for new workers to participate after stabilization.

Kim 00 (52), who is participating in the project, said, “Although I am still in my 50s and capable of working, I had difficulty finding a job for a while. Participating in the convenience store project has given me a sense of belonging and the joy of working.” He added, “If given the opportunity, I would like to challenge myself to start a convenience store business.”

The district plans to review the performance of the second branch and consider opening a third branch within Seongdong-gu. Part of the convenience store’s profits will be used as startup funds for self-sufficiency enterprises and to support the activation of self-sufficiency projects in the future.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “We are providing various self-sufficiency pathways for low-income workers who have labor ability but have not had opportunities to stand on their own, and we are striving to create profitable jobs.” He added, “Through cooperation with private companies, we will continue to discover self-sufficiency projects to provide diverse paths to independence and increase satisfaction among participants.”

Since the second half of 2019, considering the difficult employment environment, Seongdong-gu has been expanding self-sufficiency projects targeting a total of 447 participants across 25 projects, including catering, laundry services, and urban beekeeping, to stabilize employment for vulnerable groups such as middle-aged people and women with career interruptions.

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