Gangnam-gu Launches Public-Private Partnership "Middle-aged Internship" Job Creation Program

Agreement Signed with 33 Companies
Gangnam New Start Internship Program Launched

Seoul's Gangnam-gu is officially launching the "Gangnam New Start Internship" program this month for graduates of the "Middle-aged Digital Job Center" training course.

Now in its second year, this initiative is a public-private partnership job creation project that discovers companies with hiring needs and provides internship opportunities, enabling individuals aged 40 to 64 to start new careers.

Internship Business Agreement Ceremony. Provided by Gangnam-gu.

On May 16, Gangnam-gu signed agreements with 33 companies that expressed interest in participating in the internship program, marking the start of full-scale operations. This year, 60 middle-aged interns are expected to be placed in a variety of roles, including promotion and marketing, accounting and finance, education management, consulting, business support, and office administration. Participating companies will receive support for internship salaries for two months.

Last year, Gangnam-gu successfully operated internships for 40 middle-aged participants in collaboration with 30 companies, with 11 individuals (27.5%) achieving contract extensions or conversion to full-time positions. This year, the number of participants has been increased by 20% compared to the previous year, aiming to provide more middle-aged job seekers with practical opportunities for career transition, to promote a positive perception of middle-aged employment, and to foster a more inclusive hiring culture.

Kim, a 58-year-old who began an internship at the startup Cle, said, "It is helping me develop business and expand my business areas together with younger colleagues in a new field," adding, "I also expect it will be a great help in learning about and understanding cultural differences between generations."

Gangnam-gu Mayor Cho Sungmyung stated, "The role of the middle-aged generation is becoming increasingly important in an era of aging and population decline," and added, "Through this program, we will work to improve companies' perceptions of hiring middle-aged individuals and establish a foundation that enables the middle-aged to respond proactively to the changing employment environment."