Located at Seocho 50+ Center, initial operating funds of 715 million KRW secured (29 million KRW rescue funds, 300 million KRW national funds, 125 million KRW city funds)... Four projects including Seocho Planterior utilizing local infrastructure like Yangjae Flower Market planned... Target to hire over 60 people by next year, with efforts to create more jobs by discovering additional revenue businesses
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Jo) has established the nation’s first specialized institution for creating jobs for career-interrupted women (‘Gyeongdannyeo’) called ‘Seocho Women’s Job Corporation.’
This company allows career-interrupted women to participate in economic activities while utilizing their talents and dreams, reflecting their circumstances and characteristics, and generating profits without continuous financial input.
Founded on September 1, the ‘Seocho Women’s Job Corporation’ officially launched on October 1 and is based on the 3rd floor of the Seocho 50+ Center.
Although there has always been a strong social demand for supporting career activities of career-interrupted women, many efforts have been limited to temporary and simple job provisions. Women who temporarily set aside their dreams and careers due to childbirth, childcare, and recently COVID-19, have raised concerns about the need for practical and specialized job approaches that consider their aptitudes, existing careers, and the unique aspects of daily life.
Considering these specific needs of career-interrupted women, the district has been contemplating comprehensive and meticulous support plans by conducting feasibility studies, consulting experts, and reflecting the voices of the stakeholders.
The district fully invested 290 million KRW as capital for establishing the Seocho Women’s Job Corporation and also conducted public opinion surveys. According to a feasibility study and survey conducted by the Seoul Institute last October, 80.1% (561 out of 700 respondents) agreed on the necessity of establishing a women’s job corporation.
To this end, the district enacted related ordinances in January this year, completed corporate registration this month, and prepared for initial operations by hiring a representative and two office staff. During this process, the district also secured an additional 300 million KRW subsidy from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and 125 million KRW in local government funds for the corporation’s project ‘Seocho Plenterior.’
The main projects include the Seocho Plenterior project, a talent platform, the Women’s Neulbom Cafe, and a public facility cleaning project. Among these, ‘Seocho Plenterior’ is recognized as a flagship project jointly conducted by Seoul City and Seocho-gu this year.
This project reflects the recent lifestyle trend of interest in plant interiors and plans to develop a companion plant matching application and companion plant kits by utilizing local floral infrastructure such as the Yangjae Flower Market.
Additionally, the talent platform, Women’s Neulbom Cafe, and public facility cleaning projects will also be actively promoted.
▲ Talent Platform: Plans to launch a specialized talent development service for local children by building an educational platform featuring high-capacity women’s experience content developed through child education and parenting experiences.
▲ Women’s Neulbom Cafe: Plans to operate a cafe in newly established public facilities in Seocho-gu, differentiating itself from existing cafes by developing vegan menus.
▲ Public Facility Cleaning Project: Selected under the ‘Ministry of Health and Welfare Senior-Friendly Enterprise Contest,’ this project will operate environmental maintenance services for public facilities and provide jobs for seniors aged 60 and above.
The district expects the Seocho Women’s Job Corporation to create more than 60 women’s jobs by next year and plans to gradually increase jobs by discovering new revenue-generating projects.
Furthermore, to discover sustainable revenue projects that enable continuous career building, the district formed an expert advisory group earlier this month. The advisory group consists of the director of the Work-Life Balance Research Institute, officials from public job policy institutions, and private sector representatives. Based on their advice, the district plans to develop new business models for career-interrupted women’s jobs, such as ‘project-based women’s jobs.’
A career-interrupted woman participating in this corporation, Ms. Lee, said, “I had a strong desire to try various jobs, but I thought the existing simple job matching methods had limitations. I look forward to fully demonstrating my hidden capabilities while receiving a flexible working environment and living wages at the Seocho Women’s Job Corporation, which is building a new business model.”
The district has long been making continuous efforts to support women’s economic participation and job linkage. Since 2015, it has operated the ‘Seocho Nabi Coach Academy,’ a women’s regional specialization project, producing 385 coaching activists to date. Through the incubating process at the Seocho Women and Family Plaza, it has nurtured 218 professional instructors for groups such as the Kiwoom Instructor Group and Seoripul Women’s College, supporting career-interrupted women in finding their dreams.
Seocho-gu Mayor Eunhee Jo stated, “We aim to play a leading role in providing quality jobs that actively utilize the unique talents of career-interrupted women who have a strong will to work but face difficulties in economic activities, so they can achieve both economic security and self-realization.”
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