'KT Hiring 12,000 Young Adults', Now Supporting Reemployment for Middle-Aged and Senior Employees

Ministry of Employment and Labor-KT-Polytechnic 'Mid-to-Senior Employee Reemployment Support' Agreement
2022 Education at 6 Polytechnic Metropolitan Campuses Nationwide Including Seoul
Goal of 'One Qualification per Person' for 300 People Annually in Electricity, Safety, Facility Management, Electric Vehicles, etc.

KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo (far left) is seen taking a commemorative photo with attendees just before the 'Youth Hope ON' project meeting held at the KT Convergence Technology Institute in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 7th, attended by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum (far right) and others. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] KT, which has committed to hiring 12,000 young people over the next three years, is now set to support reemployment for middle-aged and older workers. Together with the government, it aims to help them acquire 'one qualification per person' in digital new industries such as electric vehicles.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that Vice Minister Park Hwajin signed a tripartite business agreement on the afternoon of the 17th with KT and Korea Polytechnics at the Polytech Seoul Jeongsu Campus in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to support reemployment for middle-aged and older KT employees. KT had previously expressed its intention to participate in the public-private 'Youth Hope ON Project' to expand youth employment and announced plans to hire 12,000 young people over the next three years. This time, it will also participate in supporting reemployment for middle-aged and older workers.

Attending the signing ceremony were Vice Minister Park, KT Vice President Shin Hyunok, and Polytechnics Chairman Jo Jaehee. The main agreement points include ▲supporting and linking reemployment programs for middle-aged and older employees ▲joint development and operation of qualification acquisition training for middle-aged and older employees ▲exchange and cooperation of human resources in the information and communication sector.

The core of the agreement is that Polytechnics will provide reemployment technical training starting next year for KT employees aged 50 and above and those wishing to change jobs. A pilot education program will begin in the second half of this year. After surveying their desired job types in advance, one course will be piloted for 16 hours between next month and November, with the curriculum to be improved and supplemented next year. Four courses?electricity, safety, facility management, and electric vehicles?will be offered over 3 to 6 months for 300 people annually. Each course will accommodate around 20 trainees. The program will be operated with training costs supported by the project operator.

Education will be provided at six regional Polytechnics campuses in Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, and Busan to facilitate trainees' convenience. The plan is to strengthen reemployment capabilities and support the acquisition of 'one qualification per person.' Among the graduates, those who wish will be assisted in smooth career transitions after retirement. To this end, Polytechnics will run a 'company-dedicated system' closely cooperating with 20 companies per class. Through a 'small group advisory professor system,' customized employment guidance and follow-up management will be provided.

Vice Minister Park said, "We will do our best to minimize employment insecurity arising from industrial transitions such as digital new industries and low carbon and to support middle-aged and older workers in settling into the labor market through reemployment and job changes." Chairman Jo also said, "KT, a leading digital platform company in Korea, and Polytechnics, the nation's job platform, have come together. We will deliver Polytechnics' 50 years of technical education know-how to the field to help KT's middle-aged employees start a successful second chapter in life through technology."

Meanwhile, Polytechnics is accepting the first round of rolling applications for two-year degree programs until the 4th of next month. They will select 6,870 students across 158 departments at 28 campuses nationwide. Detailed information about admissions can be found on the admissions website and online admissions fairs.