Cheonan and Asan Focus on Developing Senior Employment Projects

Cheonan Partners with Private Sector to Create Market-Oriented Jobs
Asan Invests 15 Billion Won to Provide 3,200 Jobs

The 'Namsan Spring' cafe in Cheonan City where retired seniors are engaging in economic activities through barista training.

As the proportion of the elderly population in Cheonan and Asan, Chungnam has surpassed 10%, signaling the onset of an aging society, both cities have begun to actively develop specialized projects to create jobs for seniors.

According to Cheonan City on the 6th, as of the end of July, there are 89,589 people aged 65 or older out of a total population of 658,537, accounting for 13.6% of the total population. In Asan, 47,012 out of 334,539 residents are aged 65 or older, making up 14% of the population.

Although these figures are lower than the national average of 19.6% and the Chungnam average of 21.8%, experts point out that various policies for the elderly are necessary to prepare for the deepening low birth rate and aging society.

In particular, the importance of creating jobs for seniors to help them maintain economic independence is being highlighted.

Cheonan City is focusing on fostering market-type job projects. In February, the city, in collaboration with the distribution company GS Retail, opened the first Senior Companion Convenience Store. This customized job project for seniors employs 20 people aged 60 or older, who work in pairs on shifts from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

In addition, at senior cafes such as "Namsanui Bom," "Beodeului Bom," "Silver Senior Cafe," and "Eunbit Cafe Hue," seniors with barista certifications serve customers. Notably, "Namsanui Bom" and "Beodeului Bom" have received recipes and ingredients from Starbucks and are receiving a great response by offering seasonal beverages for a certain period.

At the "Resin Craft" business group located in Sajik-dong, eight seniors with relevant work experience create a variety of crafts. At "Gogi Bapsang," which operates locations in Byeongcheon and Namsan, 25 seniors sell dishes such as pork ribs, stir-fried pork, and old-style lunchboxes using locally sourced organic produce.

Additionally, the city is promoting social service-type job projects such as "Instructor Dispatch," where those with teaching certificates or experience in childcare and education facilities work as instructors at local children's centers, and "Gas Safety Manager," which involves inspecting LPG-using households in rural areas.

This year, Asan City is providing various jobs to 3,212 seniors?an increase of 482 compared to last year?through four job-performing institutions, with a budget of 15 billion won, up 4.1 billion won from the previous year.

In particular, the Asan Senior Club, selected as an institution for senior job projects, is offering jobs to 1,000 seniors in 2024 through 15 project groups, including 601 in public interest activities, 230 in social service roles, and 169 in market-type positions.

Park Kyunggui, Mayor of Asan, said, "We will continue to work to expand job opportunities for seniors so that they can enjoy a vibrant and healthy retirement."