Up to 3.5 Million Won Support for Job-Seeking Discouraged Youth... Gwanak District Recruiting Participants

Recruiting 130 Participants for the Youth Challenge Support Project on a First-Come, First-Served Basis

Gwanak District in Seoul (District Mayor Park Junhee) announced on January 18 that it is recruiting participants for the "2026 Youth Challenge Support Project," aimed at young people who have given up on seeking employment.

This project, implemented as part of a public offering by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, is designed to help young people who are either long-term unemployed or have stopped job-seeking activities to enter society. Operated by the Gwanak Youth Center, it provides customized services at each stage.

Youth Challenge Support Project Recruitment Promotional Poster. Provided by Gwanak District.

Eligible applicants are young people who have not been employed, enrolled in education, or participated in vocational training for at least the past six months. This includes job-seeking discouraged youth (ages 18-34), regionally specialized youth (ages 35-39), youth preparing for independence, youth entering or leaving youth welfare facilities, and North Korean defector youth.

The program consists of five tracks, including short-term, mid-term, and long-term courses, and will accept approximately 130 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants can choose the course that best fits their circumstances. Depending on course completion, participants will receive an allowance ranging from a minimum of 500,000 won to a maximum of 3.5 million won.

The short-term course will run from March 4 to April 10 this year, providing 500,000 won. The mid-term course will be offered in two sessions starting in March and May, with a maximum allowance of 2.2 million won. The long-term course will start in February and April, with a maximum allowance of 3.5 million won, depending on completion.

The curriculum includes intensive counseling, case management, confidence building, career exploration, and employment competency enhancement. Applications can be submitted via the Employment24 website (Employment Support → Youth Challenge Support Project) or by scanning the QR code on the poster. For inquiries, contact the Gwanak Youth Center at 02-883-8407.

Park Junhee, Mayor of Gwanak District, stated, "It is important to create an environment where young people can challenge themselves again without being discouraged by failure," adding, "We will continue to develop effective youth policies so that young people can enter society stably and realize their dreams."