Seoul City Reports 12-Fold Increase in Users Renting Free Interview Suits

'Chwieopnalgae' Expanded to 13 Locations This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 9th that the number of users of the ‘Employment Wings Service,’ which rents interview suits free of charge to young job seekers suffering from the employment freeze due to the economic downturn and rising prices, has set a record high. This year, the service will expand to a total of 13 locations by opening branches in three autonomous districts (Nowon, Gangdong, Yeongdeungpo) where there were previously no service points.

According to the city, the annual number of service users, which was around 4,032 in the first year of introduction in 2016, increased to about 48,000 last year, showing more than a 12-fold increase. Over the past seven years (2016?2022), more than 210,000 young job seekers have been able to reduce the financial burden of preparing interview attire.

In particular, during the recent three years of the COVID-19 period, the number of service users surged (31,390 in 2020 → 39,547 in 2021 → 48,416 in 2022), which is analyzed to have helped ease the interview preparation burden for job seekers.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will expand the number of ‘Employment Wings Service’ branches from the current 10 to a total of 13 this year. One branch each will be added in Nowon-gu, Gangdong-gu, and Yeongdeungpo-gu, where there were no ‘Employment Wings Service’ branches before, to improve convenience for young job seekers who cannot afford to waste even a second in preparing for interviews.

In particular, the new Nowon branch is expected to resolve the issue of existing service points being concentrated south of the Han River and in central areas, and to improve accessibility for young people in the northeastern region, including Seongbuk, Gangbuk, Dobong, and Nowon, where there is a high concentration of youth. Additionally, the new Cheonho and Yeongdeungpo branches are also expected to be heavily used by young people in the Gangdong and Gangseo areas.

The ‘Employment Wings Service’ is available to any young person residing in Seoul aged from high school graduates to under 39 years old. For up to 10 times a year, users can rent interview suits, including ties, belts, and shoes, free of charge for 3 nights and 4 days at a time.

At the first use, users must visit the rental company in person for body measurements, but thereafter, they can apply online without visiting the branch and receive the items by courier.

If there is an additional interview within 5 days after the rental period ends, users can apply for an extension through the reservation system, allowing them to return the rented items after all interviews are completed.

Kim Taekyun, Director of Economic Policy at Seoul City, said, “The Employment Wings Service is the most practical job support project helping young people preparing for employment,” and added, “We will continue to discover and expand practical support policies needed during the job preparation process so that many young people can reduce their financial burden and overcome the employment freeze.”