GS25 Opens Second ‘Neulbom Store’ to Support Independence of People with Disabilities

Neulbom Store Branch 2, GS25 Siheung West Branch.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] GS25 announced on the 2nd that it has partnered with Boramae Protected Workshop under the Korea Intellectual Developmental Disability Welfare Association to open the second branch of the 'Neulbom Store,' GS25 Siheung West Branch.

Neulbom Store is the first convenience store in Korea designed as a vocational training facility for people with developmental disabilities, providing job opportunities through comprehensive job training in convenience store management. GS25 waives the investment costs necessary for the convenience store business, such as deposit, rent, and facility interior expenses, while the protected workshop is responsible for the actual store operation and management.

At GS25 Siheung West Branch, protected workshop workers who have completed the preliminary GS25 manager training will start working at the store first, and once they become proficient, customized training tailored to the developmental disability workers will be implemented. Additionally, to provide psychological stability to disabled workers, self-checkout counters will be operated, and the initial work shifts will be organized with one non-disabled and one disabled worker, gradually increasing the proportion of disabled workers.

A GS25 representative said, “We look forward to the passionate store operation by the protected workshop workers and disabled employees at GS25 Siheung West Branch,” adding, “We will continue to expand Neulbom Store to provide more opportunities for disabled workers to do their best in the workplace.”