Gangdong-gu Invests 9.5 Billion KRW to Support Jobs for Vulnerable Workers and More

Establishment of Self-Sufficiency Success Support Fund and New Support Plans

Gangdong-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 7th that it will establish a self-sufficiency support plan this year to systematically support job provision for vulnerable workers, investing a total budget of 9.5 billion KRW.

Operation scene of the privately commissioned self-support work project 'The Masil Cafe'. Provided by Gangdong-gu.

The self-sufficiency project supports low-income individuals with work ability to acquire skills and provides work opportunities to help them become self-reliant. Currently, the district operates various self-sufficiency projects, including self-sufficiency labor projects, asset-building savings account support projects, and self-sufficiency enterprise startup support.

The self-sufficiency labor project consists of work retention and welfare helper types directly operated by the district, 13 market entry, social service, and intern/helper type project groups entrusted to the Seoul Gangdong Regional Self-Sufficiency Center, as well as three self-sufficiency enterprises. In addition, the district links and supports customized self-sufficiency labor through individual self-sufficiency capability assessments and promotes self-sufficiency expansion by motivating participants’ work enthusiasm through asset-building support projects.

Last year, to revitalize the project, the district launched the “Free Toy Repair Project Group,” established the third self-sufficiency enterprise “Gangdong Hope Narmi,” and expanded the space of “The Dasil Cafe (Gangdong branch),” among various efforts. Also, the number of subscribers to the asset-building support savings account reached 1,454, a 36% increase compared to the previous year. In recognition of these achievements, the district was selected as an “Excellent Local Government in the Self-Sufficiency Field for 2024” by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and received the Minister’s Award.

This year, the district plans to expand the workshop of the self-sufficiency labor project group “The Charmant Bakery” and regularize the operation of pop-up stores for self-sufficiency products to increase sales and promote the project. Furthermore, based on the experience and know-how accumulated by existing self-sufficiency workers in the project groups, the district will promote the establishment of the fourth self-sufficiency enterprise to support more vulnerable workers in achieving stable independence.

Additionally, to increase the success rate of self-sufficiency, the district has newly established the “Self-Sufficiency Success Support Fund,” providing up to 1.5 million KRW annually to participants who have exited welfare benefits, and plans to strengthen cooperation with other job-related organizations to discover various self-sufficiency labor participants.

Seo Jeom-ok, Director of the Gangdong-gu Life Security Division, said, “We will do our best to ensure that the self-sufficiency labor project leads not only to simple job provision but also to sustainable independence,” adding, “We will spare no practical support to raise the self-sufficiency motivation of vulnerable workers and support their independence.”