From Safe Payment to Counseling... 'Seoul Freelancer On' Successfully Established

Contract Amount Reaches 120 Million Won After Official Launch
Comprehensive Platform Integrates Contract, Performance Management, and Dispute Counseling
Encouraging Private Sector Participation Through Credit Guarantees and Policy Funds

'Seoul Freelancer On,' introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to prevent payment delays between freelancers and clients, has successfully established itself in just over two months of operation.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on April 13, 'Seoul Freelancer On' recorded a contract amount of 121 million won just two months after its official launch in January this year. This surpasses the previous pilot operation performance of 114 million won over eight months last year.

Number of subscribers and contract status approximately two months after the opening of 'Seoul Freelancer On' in 2025-2026. Seoul City

'Seoul Freelancer On' is a core project under the city's 'Boosting the Real Economy' initiative, designed to support freelancers who face unstable employment conditions. Reflecting feedback from on-site users and survey results from the existing 'Freelancer Safe Payment' service, the platform has been completely revamped to focus on features that freelancers actually need. Key functions incorporated into the platform include: ▲simplified contract procedures ▲performance verification ▲enhanced accessibility to dispute counseling ▲and provision of job information.

For the Safe Payment service, the electronic signature-based electronic contract feature was introduced, streamlining the contract process. In addition, various payment methods such as instant transfer and installment payment have been added, and users can now choose whether to include withholding tax when making payments, further improving transaction convenience and security. Usage history of the Safe Payment service is automatically linked to the performance management system. Freelancers' contract and work histories are cumulatively managed on the platform, and a 'Performance Certificate' can be issued based on this data. This allows freelancers to manage all transaction records and performance documentation—which previously had to be tracked separately—on a single platform.

As of this month, since the official launch, 'Seoul Freelancer On' has reached a cumulative total of 2,066 registered users and a total contract amount of 235 million won. Compared to the initial pilot phase, the number of users has tripled and the contract amount has increased sevenfold.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government attributes these results to the transformation of 'Seoul Freelancer On' from a single-function Safe Payment service last year to a comprehensive platform this year, now integrating contract, payment, performance management, dispute counseling, and job information functions.

The impact is also being felt on the ground. Freelancers report that the Safe Payment feature allows them to work with peace of mind, free from anxiety about delayed payments, while the performance management functionality linked to transaction histories enables them to systematically manage their career and portfolio, resulting in high satisfaction. From the client's perspective, the platform automatically links transaction histories, enabling the issuance of freelancers' performance certificates. With registered profiles providing access to work experience and activity records, they report that convenience and workforce utilization efficiency have dramatically improved.

To further promote the use of 'Seoul Freelancer On,' the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to collaborate with Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, offering increased guarantee ratios and preferential guarantee fee rates to participating companies, as well as providing access to long-term, low-interest policy funds. In addition, companies certified as 'Hi Seoul Enterprise' by the Seoul Business Agency will receive extra evaluation points (converted score of 0.6 points).

Going forward, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to accelerate the expansion of 'Seoul Freelancer On' through public-private cooperation. The city will promote wider usage by linking the platform with public institution assessments and systems, and will continue to encourage private sector participation through various incentives. Lee Haeseon, Director General of the Bureau of Labor and Livelihood Affairs at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "The achievements of 'Seoul Freelancer On' in such a short period will help eliminate unfair practices in the industry and become a safety net that fully protects freelancers as workers. We will strive to ensure a work environment where freelancers can work with confidence and to secure a fair and transparent transaction infrastructure."

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