'3 Million Won Per Person' National Employment Support Program 100 Days... 60% Are Youth

253,000 Applications... 184,000 Qualifications Approved
Women Account for 54%, More Applications Than Men

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-gap speaking at the "National Employment Support System Participants Meeting" held on February 3rd at the Southern Employment Center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced on the 11th that during the first 100 days of implementing the National Employment Support System, which provides 3 million KRW per person in job-seeking promotion allowances and employment support services to vulnerable groups such as low-income job seekers, youth, and women with career interruptions, over 118,000 people received the allowance. It was found that six out of ten people who were recognized as eligible recipients were youth.

On this day, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that the National Employment Support System marked 100 days since its implementation on the 10th and disclosed its performance so far. As of the 8th, there were 253,020 applicants. In January, the first month of implementation, 199,000 people applied, raising concerns about a 'crisis,' but the number of applicants decreased in February and March. After screening, 184,829 people were recognized as eligible recipients, and among them, 118,607 received the allowance.

Source: Ministry of Employment and Labor

Implemented since January 1, this system is a program that provides 500,000 KRW per month for six months in job-seeking promotion allowances and customized employment support services to those who meet certain criteria such as low-income job seekers. It is divided into Type 1, which provides both job-seeking promotion allowances and employment support services, and Type 2, which provides only employment support services. Type 2 also supports up to 1,954,000 KRW per person for employment activity expenses.

Source: Ministry of Employment and Labor

Among the 155,449 people recognized as eligible for Type 1, 90,807 (58.4%) were youth aged 18 to 34. This is interpreted as being influenced by the youth employment difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By gender, women accounted for 83,784 (53.9%), more than men. This means that during the first 100 days of the system’s implementation, support was mainly provided to the intended target groups.

Kim Seong-ho, Director of Employment Service Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, "As the job market remains rigid due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, we will continue to improve the system so that it can be a necessary employment safety net for the people."

Source: Ministry of Employment and Labor

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that to commemorate the 100 days since the system’s implementation, it will hold an event through social networking services (SNS). From the 12th to the 18th, those who solve three quizzes and share the posts on the Ministry’s Facebook page will be entered into a draw to receive prizes.

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