Sejong-si Supports New Middle-Aged Generation in Designing Their 'Second Act' of Life

Sejong City plans to establish a 'Senior Support Center' by May next year to support the 'second act of life' for seniors residing in the area. Yang Won-chang, Director of the City’s Economic and Industrial Bureau, introduced the plan to establish the Senior Support Center during a regular briefing on the 28th. Photo by Sejong City

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Sejong City supports the design of a second act in life for the middle-aged (ages 50 to 64).

On the 28th, the city announced that it will establish a ‘Middle-aged Support Center’ by May next year to assist the middle-aged in planning their second life.

The main role of the support center is to help those who have retired from the workplace and are preparing to retire from the labor market to have opportunities for reemployment and to successfully design their second life during this process, enabling them to make a fresh start.

The support center is expected to be located in the rental commercial complex of Gaon Village 7 Complex in Dajeong-dong, managed by LH Korea Land and Housing Corporation. The city plans to equip the center with classrooms, counseling rooms, and shared offices to perform functions of exchange, growth, and innovation.

Key programs include ‘Life Career Redesign,’ which covers work, finance, health, and other aspects necessary for life redesign, and ‘Rejump Employment Education’ for career development.

After completing these programs, participants will be able to create business models through the ‘Community Activity Support’ program. The city’s blueprint also includes discovering jobs by linking the middle-aged with companies through programs related to new industries in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In particular, the city expects synergy effects through intergenerational exchange and collaboration by connecting the support center with youth entrepreneurship and cultural facilities such as the Youth Center, ICT Innovation Square, and Webtoon Campus, which have already moved into the rental commercial complex.

The middle-aged population in the Sejong area has been increasing, with about 53,000 (16.9% of the total population) in 2018, about 59,000 (17.3%) in 2019, about 63,000 (17.8%) last year, and about 67,000 (18.3%) as of September this year.

Meanwhile, the city initially pursued the establishment of an ‘Administrative Research Support Center’ as a third-term municipal pledge to support the retirement of retired public officials and researchers. However, reflecting the steady increase in the proportion of the middle-aged population in the region, the scope of support was expanded to cover the entire middle-aged group, shifting the direction to establish the Middle-aged Support Center.

Yang Won-chang, Director of the Economic and Industrial Bureau, said, “The city will support the middle-aged to successfully design their ‘second act’ in life and make a fresh start.” He added, “The Middle-aged Support Center to be established to back this will play a role in discovering and providing customized middle-aged services such as life career redesign, employment and entrepreneurship, and job discovery in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”