Seoul Metropolitan Government hosts large-scale job fair at aT Center on Tuesday
70 companies from education, beauty, IT and technology sectors take part
Success stories shared from participants in the Midlife Career Academy
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday held the Seoul Midlife Job Fair 2026 at Exhibition Hall 1 of aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, with 70 hiring companies and related organizations taking part. The fair offered on-site recruitment consultations, interviews, job-role experiences, employment consulting, and information on financial, health and care services — all aimed at helping middle-aged residents find new jobs or change careers.
Participating companies, businesses friendly to middle-aged workers, and policy-related organizations provided job seekers with a wide range of employment opportunities and information. Visitors could check the hiring fields and job details of each participating company on the spot and explore positions suited to their experience.
The event was organized by the Seoul50Plus Foundation, a city-funded body that provides comprehensive support to residents between the ages of 40 and 64, covering career planning, vocational training, and job placement and startup assistance.
The fair was divided into six zones: a showcase of top companies hiring middle-aged workers, a general jobs zone, a future career planning zone, a midlife-friendly industry zone, a side-events zone, and a policy information zone. Beyond recruitment consultations and on-site interviews, the fair brought together in one place a full range of job-search services — application coaching, one-on-one employment consulting, vocational experience programs and policy counseling.
At the opening ceremony, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon delivered opening remarks, after which the city presented Seoul Metropolitan Government commendations to companies and organizations that have contributed to spreading a culture of hiring middle-aged workers and improving public awareness around midlife employment. Four recipients — KFC Korea, Korea Polytechnic University I Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, KT CS and Hyundai Green Food — were recognized for fostering workplace cultures in which companies and their middle-aged employees grow together.
The jobs zone featured hiring companies from education, care, logistics, office work, counseling, sales, technology and other fields, conducting recruitment consultations and on-site interviews with middle-aged job seekers.
After the fair, the city plans to continue supporting follow-up matching between participating companies and job seekers through its Midlife Career Academy, with counseling and vocational training designed to lead to actual employment.
Also new this year, the midlife-friendly industry zone featured Shinhan Bank, Daesang Welllife, Daekyo New-if Plus and Roche Korea, which provided information on financial and pension consulting, health and care services, and leisure and cultural programs — covering both the professional and lifestyle needs of middle-aged residents.
About 4,500 people attended last year's event. The fair is open free of charge to any Seoul resident between the ages of 40 and 64.
"It is Seoul's job to make sure that years of experience can shine in a new workplace," Oh said. "We will continue to provide solid support so that the efforts and determination of our middle-aged residents translate into real employment and better lives."
ikson@heraldcorp.com
