"Work Experience Over Credentials"... Gwangju City Selects Dream Youth Participants

Recruiting 400 Unemployed Youths Until July 16
Extra Points for Hikikomori and Self-Supporting Youth
Program Hosted at 300 Dreamter Sites Including Public Institutions

Recruitment Poster for the 18th Dream Youth of Gwangju Youth Work Experience Dream. Provided by Gwangju City

On July 1, Gwangju City announced that it will recruit 400 participants for the 18th cohort of the "Gwangju Youth Work Experience Dream" program, which offers practical, work-based job experience. Applications will be accepted until July 16.

The "Gwangju Youth Work Experience Dream" is Gwangju City's flagship youth employment policy, designed to help local young people build job competencies through a combination of job training and on-site work experience, particularly as career-based hiring becomes more prevalent. Since its launch in 2017, more than 7,600 local youths have participated and developed their skills at a variety of workplaces in the region.

Any unemployed youth aged 19 to 39 who is registered as a resident of Gwangju is eligible to apply. Selected "Dream Youth" will participate in either a self-directed work experience for 25 hours per week over five months, or an intensive work experience for 40 hours per week over three months, at matched workplaces. Participants will receive a salary at the level of Gwangju's living wage (pre-tax monthly wage of approximately 1.69 million to 2.7 million won).

Participants will also have access to a range of programs, including onboarding (adaptation support) training, customized job training, mentoring from professionals, and community engagement activities. In particular, additional points are awarded to disadvantaged youth, such as hikikomori and self-supporting youth, to actively support their entry into the labor market.

Prior to this, the city recruited participating workplaces, known as Dreamters, and selected more than 300 organizations, including Korea Power Exchange, Gwangju Credit Guarantee Foundation, Korea Alps Co., Ltd., Mudeung Enterprise Co., Ltd., Greentech Co., Ltd., as well as public institutions in Gwangju and Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Innovation City, small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, social economy enterprises, and social welfare organizations. Information about participating workplaces and available job experiences can be found on the Gwangju Youth Work Experience Dream website.

To apply, applicants must complete and submit the first-round interview application form on the Gwangju Youth Work Experience Dream website by 5:00 p.m. on July 16. From July 14 to 16, applicants can also attend the "Dream Meeting Day" event at the City Hall Citizen Hall, where they can receive counseling and interviews with Dreamters, and submit the final application form by 9:00 p.m. on July 16. On-site application and participation in the event are also possible on "Dream Meeting Day."

The final results will be announced on July 24 via the Gwangju Youth Integrated Platform, the Gwangju Youth Work Experience Dream website, and the Gwangju City website. Inquiries can be made through the KakaoTalk channel "Gwangju Youth Dream" or the Gwangju Youth Work Experience Dream project team.

Kim Kisook, Director of the Education and Youth Bureau, said, "The Work Experience Dream is a valuable opportunity to explore career paths while gaining practical experience," and added, "We look forward to the active participation of local youth who are seeking meaningful preparation for employment."

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