Gyeongbuk Assembly Member Kwon Kwangtaek: "Support for the 'Second Act of Life' Needed for Those in Their 40s Affected by Early Retirement and Career Interruptions"

Ordinance Amendment for Support Program Proposed

Kwon Kwangtaek, a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly (People Power Party, Andong), announced on September 29 that he has sponsored a partial amendment to the ordinance on supporting the "second act of life" for middle-aged residents in North Gyeongsang Province.

The key point of this amendment is to allow the governor to expand the target age group for the "second act of life" support program beyond the existing middle-aged group (ages 50 to under 65), if deemed necessary.

Kwon Kwangtaek, Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly Member

Kwon emphasized the need for a flexible approach to age criteria, stating, "Due to changes in industrial structure and instability in the employment environment, challenges such as early retirement and career interruptions are increasing. In particular, the demand for support for a second act of life is also growing among generations younger than the middle-aged, such as those in their 40s."

If the amendment passes, residents of North Gyeongsang Province will be able to receive tailored support for career transitions-such as reemployment, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, social participation, and health management-earlier, depending on the circumstances of each city and county.

Kwon explained, "This ordinance revision will help alleviate structural issues such as a declining working-age population due to low birth rates, labor shortages, and rising elderly welfare costs. At the same time, it will provide a foundation for residents to effectively utilize their accumulated experience and capabilities within the local community."

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