[2022 National Audit] "68% of Applicants for Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Youth Job Program Resigned"

Only 165 Regular and Non-Regular Workers Retained
"Non-Regular Jobs Remain Prevalent... Need for Comprehensive Policies"

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism revealed that 68% of the 525 applicants supported by the youth job project, funded with an additional budget of 4.5 billion KRW last year, have resigned.

The youth job project was conducted with the purpose of supporting digital professionals in the MICE industry while nurturing industry talent. Up to 1.8 million KRW per person per month was paid for a maximum of six months to 157 MICE companies that hired majors or employees in digital technology and content fields.

According to data disclosed on the 4th by Ryu Ho-jeong, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee (Justice Party), 93% of the initial 525 recruits, or 493 people, were hired as non-regular workers. Among them, 216 were converted to regular positions. However, a survey conducted in June showed that only 56.6% (140 people) of the regular workers and 9% (25 people) of the non-regular workers remained employed. The reasons for leaving were mainly voluntary resignation, personal reasons, contract expiration, negotiation breakdown, and company circumstances, in that order.

Rep. Ryu criticized, "Contrary to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's self-assessment that it contributed to the continuous nurturing of convergent talents, it remained limited to fostering non-regular workers," and emphasized, "A detailed policy design is required so that young people can prepare for the future."