"The Only One in Seoul"... This Place Exists Only in Gangnam-gu

Digital Specialized Training and Job Placement at Gangnam-gu Shinjungnyeon Digital Job Center
"Average Age 52"... Maximum Competition Rate 13 to 1

The Pinnacle Gangnam Building, connected underground to Exit 3 of Gangnam-gu Office Station on the subway, houses the ‘Gangnam-gu Shinjungnyeon Digital Job Center.’ The center, approximately 70 pyeong (230㎡) in size, officially opened last January with sponsorship from Hana Financial Group.

On the mornings of the 15th and 16th of last month, training was held here on how to improve work productivity and efficiency using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The average age of the 20 or so trainees was in their early 50s. A young instructor taught over two days how to input prompts step-by-step when using chat GPT to obtain the desired results, how to easily create blog posts or presentation materials using chat GPT, and how to utilize it for songwriting, composing, visual creation, and business plan writing.

Instructor Jang Jaeyoung said, “Even learning for just two days allows you to use it well in daily life and significantly increase work productivity.”

Training session of ChatGPT and generative AI (photo left). Center Director Hwang Seong-cheol is explaining the curriculum. Photo by Kim Min-jin.

Four out of ten people in Seoul are Shinjungnyeon

Kim Seunghoon, head of the Gangnam-gu Job Policy Team, emphasized, “What sets us apart from other job centers is that we link digital specialized education with job support.”

Shinjungnyeon refers to the generation aged 40 to 64, between the elderly aged 65 and over and the youth in their 20s and 30s. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s resident registration population statistics, as of the end of last year, the Shinjungnyeon generation in Seoul accounted for 38.2% (3.56 million people). Nearly four out of ten people are Shinjungnyeon.

The average age of center users is 52. This age group mainly consists of those who have retired from their primary jobs and are either working in other jobs or seeking new employment. Gangnam-gu established the center to support this generation in finding jobs or expanding their capabilities in digital new industries such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Therefore, more than 90% of the programs conducted at the center are digital education. Among the 45 courses held last year, 13 were intensive courses lasting 32 to 80 hours. More than half of the programs were over 20 hours each. The center also supports introductory courses for job transition and expert in-depth counseling and consulting.

Kim said, “Last year, we discovered 30 companies and supported the participation of 40 Shinjungnyeon interns, resulting in 125 people finding employment, including startups, after completing the training.”

Shinjungnyeon flock to the center... Enrollment competition rate 13.3 to 1

Kim Jina (female, 50, pseudonym), who completed last year’s ‘Digital Marketer Expert Training Course,’ succeeded in getting a job at a startup through the center’s one-on-one in-depth employment counseling and Shinjungnyeon internship.

Gangnam-gu collaborated with Hana Financial Group to open the "Senior Digital Job Center" in January last year. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening was attended by Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu (fourth from the left in the photo), and Lee Eun-hyung, Vice Chairman of Hana Financial Group, among others. Provided by Gangnam-gu.

The ‘Digital Creator Training Course,’ mainly attended by prospective entrepreneurs or job creators, recorded a competition rate of 13.3 to 1 last year. For the 68-hour training selecting 24 people, 320 applied. The average competition rate for intensive courses is 4.7 to 1.

Besides the center’s location and programs, there is another advantage: all courses are free of charge. To participate in intensive courses, applicants must pass document screening and interviews. Only Gangnam-gu residents can apply. Residents from other districts can utilize the ‘Hana Power On Challenge Second Life’ project, promoted by Hana Financial Group as a social contribution targeting 4050 Shinjungnyeon. Eligible Seoul citizens can participate.

Hwang Seongcheol, director of the Shinjungnyeon Digital Job Center, said, “Many people with excellent personal capabilities are forced to retire because of their age. I hope many people who want to develop digital skills here and gain the flexibility to integrate with younger generations will apply for reemployment.” Director Hwang, aged 59, is also a successful case of reemployment after retiring from a large corporation five years ago.