A 50s Intern Appears in Seocho-dong Legal Town... Could It Become a New Job Model? [Byeolbyeol Administration]

'Seoripul Legal Supporters' Kim Heesook and Yeo Inseong
Seocho-gu 'Middle-aged Legal Internship Employment Support Project'
"Middle-aged are key human resources" "Presence is as important as salary"

Through the "Seoripul Legal Supporters" program, Heesook Kim (left in the photo) and Inseong Yeo, who are working as interns in the Seocho-dong Legal Town, are explaining their internship duties in an interview with this newspaper. Provided by Seocho-gu.

Passionate 30-year-old female CEO Anne Hathaway. What happens when 70-year-old Robert De Niro, whose experience is his weapon, is hired as an intern? Would a scene from the movie "The Intern" be impossible in Korean society?

The legal retirement age in Korea is 60, but more people leave their jobs before then. Many middle-aged early retirees boast solid careers and experience, but the wall of "age" makes reemployment difficult.

They want to work again. However, simple labor jobs or contract positions at service companies are unsatisfactory and unrelated to their previous careers. This is also undesirable in terms of efficient utilization of human resources. This is especially true as the number of highly educated retirees increases.

Seochogu District in Seoul launched the "Seoripul Legal Supporters" last year against this backdrop. Seochogu started the "Middle-aged Legal Office Internship Employment Support Project" last year. The district is home to a legal town with the Supreme Court, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, courts and prosecution offices, lawyer associations, and law firms, where demand for related personnel is steady.

Seochogu selects applicants under 58 years old among residents, provides short-term specialized training in legal office work, and offers a six-month internship opportunity. Those in their 50s who complete short-term legal office staff training commissioned by the Seochogu 50 Plus Center to a professional institution work as interns (3 months + 3 months extension) at law firms in Seochodong for six months and may get hired.

Compared to the demand for personnel in various legal institutions, employees in their 20s have high turnover rates and often only perform simple clerical tasks. Therefore, it was judged that reemployment of the experienced and professional middle-aged generation here could be a "win-win."

Last year, 12 middle-aged people participated as interns in the Seoripul Legal Supporters program, and four were ultimately employed. In the first half of this year, 10 out of 17 education participants were selected as outstanding, and since May until the end of this month, they have been working as interns at nine partner organizations that signed business agreements with the district, including Law Firm Seungpyeong, IBS Legal Office, Lee & Seung Legal Office, Legal Office Dowon, Labor Corporation Dowon, Law Firm Seoul Central, Sein Legal Office, Anam Legal Office, and Legal Office Jeong Myeongjo.

Ms. Yeoinseong (52, right in the photo), who retired three years ago after working in marketing and sales management at a financial institution, is already called "Manager" at Law Firm Seungpyeong. Ms. Yeo said, "The nature of the work requires both activeness and meticulousness, and I feel like I finally found a job that suits my personality. My family and acquaintances say I fit in well and that I made a very good choice." She is expanding her work area by leveraging her social experience to handle marketing and client acquisition tasks that are difficult for novice employees.

Ms. Kim Heesook (58, left in the photo), interning at Legal Office Jeong Myeongjo, said, "I believe I have to work more than twice as much as I receive, so I apply my experience to the work and continue studying." She emphasized her presence and fulfillment, saying, "I want to incorporate my experience as a tax office manager, tax accounting director at a pharmaceutical company, and running a building management company into my work."

Heo Jeonghun, team leader of the Seochogu 50 Plus Center, explained, "Middle-aged people are effective human resources, and providing them with successful placement experiences will bring about a social effect of increasing middle-aged employment overall." He added, "Seochogu regards this project as a very important starting point for generational transition."

Last month, we met them at Law Firm Seungpyeong in Seochodong, where Ms. Yeo works.

Ms. Yeon-seong Yeo, who mainly worked at large corporations and financial institutions, expressed her desire to utilize her experience in marketing and other tasks to work in the legal field. Provided by Seocho-gu.

- What is your work experience?

(Yeo Inseong) "I started at Korean Air, then worked in marketing and sales management related to finance at banks, insurance, and securities companies. I retired three years ago and ran a business related to artificial intelligence and the metaverse for about a year but closed it due to difficulties in securing investment. Later, I became interested in middle-aged social advancement programs run by public institutions and learned about Seoripul Legal Supporters at the Seochogu 50 Plus Center. I was very interested in legal education and thought that gaining legal knowledge could help those around me."

(Kim Heesook) "I majored in business administration and started working at a tax accountant's office. After about 10 years, I was scouted by a pharmaceutical company and worked there for another 10 years, eventually promoted to head of the tax accounting department. I planned to study for a PhD in the U.S. but had to give up due to circumstances and rejoined a building management company. I also started and ran a related company. While running the business, I was involved in lawsuits, which sparked my intellectual curiosity about legal knowledge."

- How was the education?

(Yeo) "I took a six-session legal office staff training course at a professional institution, six hours a day. We learned basic legal knowledge related to legal office work, electronic litigation practice, and document drafting, focusing on practical legal office tasks. The education itself was enjoyable, but I especially liked forming a community with people of similar age and situations."

- How does the internship process proceed? What about after six months?

(Yeo, Kim) "The initial period is three months, and if conditions are met, it can be extended for another three months. We are currently in the extension phase, at the six-month mark (as of October). After six months, if the company wishes to hire, they discuss formal employment. If both sides agree on terms and conditions, a formal employment contract is signed."

- How is the salary during the internship?

(Yeo, Kim) "The salary during the internship is supported by the district office."

- What kind of work do you mainly do during the internship? What are your future plans?

(Yeo) "I handle litigation-related tasks that legal office staff usually do, but I plan to focus on marketing and promoting the law firm by leveraging the network I built during my social life. I might handle administrative tasks, but that could overlap and conflict with younger employees' work. I believe that marketing with basic legal knowledge is an area where experienced people like me can contribute."

(Kim) "I am interning at a legal office mainly handling real estate and corporate work. I consult with clients and handle tasks, but I also visit licensed real estate agent offices to network, promote the company, and hand out business cards. Since my clients are of similar age and I have no difficulty dealing with people or building relationships, I expect to see results gradually. I come to the office early to clean and stay after work to study. I am proactive and ambitious. I want to find a place where I can fully demonstrate my abilities as a multi-player."

Representative Attorney Kim Hyung-geun of Seungpyeong Law Firm is explaining to a reporter the reason for participating as a partner organization in the Seoripul Legal Supporters. Provided by Seocho-gu.

Ms. Yeo Inseong and Ms. Kim Heesook emphasized the importance of "presence." They hope that more meaningful jobs and opportunities that provide a sense of fulfillment and presence will increase for middle-aged people seeking reemployment. They also expressed a wish that many local governments and the central government benchmark projects like Seoripul Legal Supporters to create many quality jobs tailored to regional characteristics.

Kim Hyunggeun, representative lawyer of Law Firm Seungpyeong, which has participated as a partner institution since the first year of the Seoripul Legal Supporters project, said, "There are many times when we need employees to assist with difficult tasks depending on the field. If middle-aged interns have matching experience and expertise, along with flexible attitudes and communication skills, they can seize sufficient opportunities."

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