200 unemployed young residents eligible

Total of 60 million won available; up to 300,000 won per person

Gangbuk-gu District Office in Seoul [Gangbuk-gu]
Gangbuk-gu District Office in Seoul [Gangbuk-gu]

Gangbuk-gu in Seoul announced Thursday it will launch a new support program to ease the financial burden on unemployed young residents preparing to enter the workforce and strengthen their job-seeking capabilities.

The program is designed to cover practical job-preparation costs, from self-development expenses to interview preparation. It will support 200 unemployed young residents with a total of 60 million won ($44,200), with each recipient eligible for up to 300,000 won. The district funded the initiative through a second supplementary budget of 28 billion won for this year, approved by the Gangbuk-gu Council.

The self-development allowance covers up to 200,000 won per person for tuition and textbook costs related to employment. Eligible uses include language courses, professional certification programs, job-related lectures and the purchase of study materials, with the scope kept broad to accommodate a wide range of career paths.

The interview preparation allowance covers up to 100,000 won per person for costs directly tied to job interviews, including purchasing or renting interview attire, resume editing services and hair styling. The district said it expects the support to reduce the financial strain young job seekers face during the interview process.

Applicants must be between 19 and 39 years old, unemployed and registered as residents of Gangbuk-gu as of the date of application. Benefits will be paid as mobile Gangbuk Love gift vouchers, valid for one year from the date of issue. Recruitment will be held monthly from October through December.

"We will continue to identify and develop a variety of youth employment programs to help young people strengthen their job readiness and make a stable transition into society," Gangbuk-gu District Mayor Jeong Chang-su said.


ikson@heraldcorp.com