Gwangyang City Converts 13 Jeonnam-Type Blue Economy Company Youth Interns to Full-Time Employees

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Thirteen interns hired through the ‘Jeonnam-type Blue Economy Company Youth Intern Support Project’ have attracted attention as they have been converted to full-time positions.

The city, together with Jeollanam-do, has been promoting leading workforce matching for core companies based on the six major sectors of Jeonnam’s blue energy since March this year to create youth jobs.

Participating companies are those related to the six major sectors of the Blue Economy located in Gwangyang-si with fewer than 300 employees. When they hire unemployed youth under the age of 39, the companies receive support for labor costs and four major insurance premiums for three months, and participants receive 200,000 KRW for transportation expenses for three months and a congratulatory bonus of 300,000 KRW upon conversion to full-time employment.

Seven companies in Gwangyang-si are participating, employing a total of 14 people, and 13 of them have been converted to full-time positions after completing the three-month internship period.

The remaining one person is expected to be converted as soon as the internship period ends, creating 14 stable new jobs.

Youth interns participating in the project received job training hosted by the Jeollanam-do Small and Medium Business Promotion Agency, as well as workshops and exchange meetings for various networks, which encouraged their active employment intentions and rapid adaptability.

Moon Byung-ju, Director of the Investment and Jobs Division, said, “It is very encouraging that 13 people were converted to full-time positions through the Blue Economy Company Youth Intern Support Project during a difficult time of economic recession,” adding, “We will continue to prepare projects that support youth labor costs and link them to full-time employment.”

Meanwhile, Gwangyang-si established a youth job creation plan at the beginning of the year and annually trains more than 200 professionals in welding skills, factory automation tailored to industrial demand, ceiling cranes, mechanical maintenance, forklifts, and more.

In addition, various projects have been promoted to create youth jobs, including youth-led job-creating entrepreneurship support projects, youth job matching projects, and tourism service professional training.