Young Men in Military Service Can Participate in the National Employment Support System Until Age 37

Notice of Legislative Proposal for Partial Amendment of Subordinate Statutes of the 'Job Seeker Employment Promotion Act'
Expansion of Participating Youth Age Range to '15 to 34 Years and Above'
Up to 3 Years of Military Service Added to Youth Age Limit
Job Promotion Allowance Paid After Deducting 60% of Median Income for Single-Person Households When Income Occurs

The age range for youth eligible to participate in the Korean-style unemployment assistance program, the National Employment Support System, will be expanded from 18-34 years to 15-34 years and above. The upper age limit will be extended by up to 3 years for military service. Youth who have completed military service will be able to participate in the National Employment Support System until the age of 37.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 30th that it will publicly notify the partial amendments to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Act on the Promotion of Employment for Job Seekers and Support for Livelihood Stabilization, which include these changes, until December 9.

This amendment follows the revision of the Job Seekers Employment Promotion Act on August 8 and is scheduled to take effect from February 9 next year after public notification and other procedures.

First, the amendment expands the age range of youth eligible to participate in the National Employment Support System from 18-34 years to 15-34 years and above (including additional military service period). Considering the gap in job preparation caused by mandatory military service, the upper age limit for youth will be extended from the existing 34 years by the length of active duty, non-commissioned officer, or officer service (up to 3 years). However, this does not apply to artists, athletes, public health doctors, military medical examiners, public legal officers, or public quarantine veterinarians.

Job-seeking promotion allowances will be paid even if there is income. As before participation in the system, to enable job searching and stable livelihood maintenance, even if income is generated during participation in the National Employment Support System, the job-seeking promotion allowance will be paid after deducting the income earned above 60% of the median income for a single-person household (1,337,000 KRW based on next year’s standard). The Ministry of Employment expects this to resolve the irrationality where total income was reversed due to suspension of allowance payments before the law revision.

Additionally, the amendment allows any job-seeking promotion allowance to be used to offset repayment or additional collection amounts if a person is required to pay refunds or additional charges due to false or unfair acts.

Lee Jeong-han, Director of Employment Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, "With this amendment to the subordinate laws of the Job Seekers Employment Promotion Act, more vulnerable groups in need of employment will be able to prepare for job seeking more stably. We will actively collect and review public opinions during the public notification period to actively support the self-reliance of vulnerable groups through work."

(Photo)