Gyeonggi-do Supports North Korean Defectors with 'Certification Acquisition and Internships'... Up to 1.8 Million KRW

Gyeonggi Province will strengthen employment support policies from this year to establish an economic self-reliance foundation for North Korean defectors, including support for obtaining certifications and expanding internship support.

First, Gyeonggi Province will introduce the ‘Employment Education Fee for North Korean Defectors.’ It will provide actual expense support up to 1 million KRW per person for obtaining national certifications such as national technical qualifications, national professional qualifications, and nationally recognized private certifications. The support targets North Korean defectors who complete education and obtain certifications after May.

In addition, a customized employment education program will be operated to support North Korean defectors in acquiring caregiver certifications. The training fees for North Korean defectors participating in the employment education are fully free, and a training allowance of 200,000 KRW per month will also be provided.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

The internship support project for North Korean defectors has extended the internship support period from the previous 3 months to 6 months. The internship support fund has also been increased from 1.2 million KRW to 1.8 million KRW.

The internship support project for North Korean defectors is designed to provide an opportunity to adapt to the workplace before regular employment. First, through pre-consultation, businesses and interns are connected, and support funds are provided to both the companies that hire interns and the North Korean defectors.

For detailed information on employment for North Korean defectors, inquiries can be made to local adaptation centers and the Gyeonggi Province Care Counseling Center.

Jeon Cheol, Director of Gyeonggi Province Peace Infrastructure Division, stated, "Gyeonggi Province is providing various supports so that North Korean defectors can adapt stably to the local community," and added, "We will continue to promote settlement support projects so that they can live with pride as citizens of the Republic of Korea."