Eighth Popularly Elected Administration Drives Sustainable Local Job Creation
Surpassing Original Targets
Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang Province secured the "Best Award" for the second consecutive year at the "2025 National Local Government Job Awards," hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on September 30.
Yeongdeok County, National Local Government Job Award Best Award for Two Consecutive Years. Photo by Yeongdeok County
The "National Local Government Job Awards" is an annual accolade presented to local governments across the country that have demonstrated outstanding performance in job creation initiatives. The selection process is highly rigorous, involving a first-round evaluation by the local employment and labor offices and a second-round assessment by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, making it the most prestigious award in the field of employment nationwide.
In this year’s evaluation, Yeongdeok County received excellent marks in planning, execution, and outcomes. The county was especially recognized for providing shared housing and supporting employment and entrepreneurship for young people to counter local population decline, as well as for establishing a social foundation to attract youth through the operation of the "Thrifty Youth Job Plus" community program.
Additionally, Yeongdeok County has been revitalizing the local economy by creating jobs that reflect the region’s unique characteristics and span all generations-from youth to seniors-under the vision of "A Vibrant Yeongdeok Created by Good Jobs." This includes competitive jobs in agriculture, fisheries, and rural areas; jobs linked to the activation of the culture and tourism industries; jobs that encourage young people to stay in the region; and quality jobs for seniors.
As a result, Yeongdeok County exceeded its original job creation target by achieving 103.7% of its goal. Over the past five years, the county’s employment rate has steadily increased by 1.6%, with the number of regular employees rising by 103.2% and the number of employment insurance subscribers increasing by 100.6%, indicating a simultaneous improvement in employment stability.
These achievements are attributed to the county’s focus on creating sustainable local jobs since the launch of the eighth popularly elected administration, through large-scale private investment attraction, the establishment of production and distribution infrastructure, activation of the wellness tourism industry, and diverse support for young people, rather than relying solely on short-term job opportunities.
County Governor Kim Kwangyeol stated, "Despite the region's lack of industrial infrastructure, winning the Best Award for jobs for two consecutive years is the result of actively reflecting on-the-ground needs-gathered through close communication with residents-in administrative policies, and having our staff effectively implement these policies in ways that suit the unique characteristics of Yeongdeok. We will reaffirm our sense of responsibility and devote all our efforts to creating quality jobs and ensuring employment stability to build a sustainable and happy Yeongdeok for our residents."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
