Korea Employment and Labor Education Institute, Korea Business Incubation Association partner to roll out training across the country

Program covers labor law, workplace injury prevention and organizational culture

The Youth Startup Support Center near Seonangil in Cheongju, pictured Tuesday. [Yonhap]
The Youth Startup Support Center near Seonangil in Cheongju, pictured Tuesday. [Yonhap]

The Korea Employment and Labor Education Institute is expanding a free practical training program nationwide to help young startups build stronger HR and labor management capabilities. The initiative aims to reduce the labor compliance risks that early-stage companies often face due to unfamiliarity with labor law, and to help them establish a stable foundation for running their organizations.

The institute announced Tuesday that it is operating the "2026 Startup HR and Labor Management Course" on a national scale in partnership with the Korea Business Incubation Association. The two organizations signed an MOU in 2023 to develop a tailored curriculum for startups and ran a pilot program. This year, the institute expanded the program to cover the entire country.

The program is open to executives and employees of young startups based at business incubation centers across the country. The curriculum covers four areas: labor relations law and recent labor policy, HR and labor management for startups, industrial accident prevention, and building a healthy organizational culture — all designed around practical content that participants can apply directly on the job.

Business incubation centers will handle recruitment of participating companies, while the institute provides the curriculum and professional instructors. The arrangement is intended to improve accessibility for startups and address regional demand for training.

The institute expects the program to help startups deepen their understanding of labor relations law, head off compliance risks before they arise, and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth through accident prevention and a healthier workplace culture.

A total of 11 sessions will be held through late October at business incubation centers in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province, the Chungcheong region, the Yeongnam region and the Honam region. All sessions are free of charge.

"It is critically important for startups to put an HR and labor management system in place early in their growth," institute president Lee Jong-seon said. "Building on our partnership with the Korea Business Incubation Association, we will continue to expand field-oriented education to help companies strengthen their compliance with labor relations law and foster a healthy organizational culture."


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