Gangdong-gu in Seoul announced that about 2,500 people participated in education programs at the Gangdong50Plus Center in the first half of 2026. The center supports middle-aged residents — those between 40 and 64 — with life planning, work and activity opportunities, self-development and community engagement.
The center ran 136 courses in the first half of the year, centering on life planning and career development while expanding programs tailored to the evolving needs of middle-aged residents. As a comprehensive institution, it offers education, counseling and job-placement programs designed to help participants map out the next chapter of their lives.
In the life planning track, the center operated 55 courses covering 67 individual programs. New additions included introductory courses on generative AI use and AI ethics, aimed at strengthening participants' digital literacy. Practical lifestyle skills were also a focus — courses on protecting homeowner rights, DIY interior design and home repair drew strong interest for their immediate, everyday applicability.
Health programs rounded out the life planning offerings. The center partnered with specialized institutions, including a local public health center and the Central Veterans Hospital, to run an integrated wellness program addressing both mental and physical health, helping participants restore their well-being and boost their energy for daily life.
One participant, a 54-year-old resident of Amsa-dong, said the singing bowl aromatherapy sessions and FIT-HOP dance classes — which combine movement with music — helped her find peace of mind while taking care of her health. "My sense of depression has eased, and I've started enjoying life more actively," she said.
The career development track focused on helping participants channel their experience and interests into work and activity. Enrollment in job-skills courses reflecting digital trends and the latest industry developments rose 4.7 percent from the previous year. The center also launched new courses identified through a competitive public program, including training for instructors at after-school care programs and a stock photography course that teaches participants how to register photos on platforms and generate income.
The results were tangible: 61 percent of graduates earned professional certifications, and 31 percent moved into new work or activities — as entrepreneurs, instructors or freelancers. The career development programs are drawing recognition for providing practical support for middle-aged residents seeking to develop new careers and explore new directions.
Through its peer-learning classroom initiative, the center ran creative courses in crafts, drawing and calligraphy, alongside physical activity classes such as health exercises and stretching. After completing the courses, participants donated handmade works to affiliated organizations, contributing to a culture of community giving. Voluntary club activities have continued to grow out of these programs as well.
Building on the first half's results, the Gangdong50Plus Center plans to continue expanding its life planning and career development programs in the second half of the year, with a focus on developing tailored offerings that reflect participants' needs. A highlight of the second half will be a middle-aged healthcare and social participation program selected through a Seoul Metropolitan Government competition to identify community agenda projects. The program will provide education and activity opportunities for middle-aged residents interested in health management, with plans to connect participants to community engagement and employment opportunities.
"The Gangdong50Plus Center has been helping middle-aged residents design their own lives, with a focus on life planning and work, in step with a changing era," Gangdong-gu district mayor Lee Su-hee said. "We will continue to listen closely to participants and provide unwavering support so that everyone can open the second act of their lives with energy."
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