The First Local Government Employment Retention Incentive for North Korean Defectors
Boosting Work Motivation and Encouraging Long-Term Employment... Protecting Vulnerable Groups
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will expand the "Employment Retention Incentive Support Program for North Korean Defectors" this year. The employment retention incentive for North Korean defectors is a system that provides incentives according to length of service to North Korean defectors residing in Seoul who have been working at the same company for at least one year.
As of February 20, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that the number of recipients of employment retention incentives will increase to 70 people this year (35 in the first half and 35 in the second half of the year). Last year, the city officially implemented the employment retention incentive support program for North Korean defectors and provided incentives equivalent to 600,000 to 1.2 million won (for six months) to a total of 41 North Korean defectors.
Considering the economic conditions of North Korean defectors living in Seoul, there is a need for policies that support long-term employment and thereby strengthen their foundation for economic self-reliance. The rate at which North Korean defectors receive basic livelihood benefits is 28.7% nationwide (23%), which is about nine times higher than that of Seoul citizens (3.2%). A "Survey on the Actual Conditions of North Korean Defectors" conducted by the Korea Hana Foundation also showed that the average length of service of North Korean defectors residing in Seoul is 40.9 months (40.1 months nationwide), which is about half that of the general population (78 months).
In line with this, one-person households will be newly added to the preferential criteria for extra points that are granted to low-income households, families with persons with disabilities, and single-parent families. The city will grant extra points to one-person households, families with persons with disabilities, single-parent families, multicultural families, and families with multiple children, and will differentiate extra points by income bracket. In the event of a tie in scores, applicants with lower incomes will be given priority.
Eligible applicants are North Korean defectors aged 18 or older whose registered address is in Seoul. Their income must be at or below 150% of the standard median income for 2026. The city plans to provide 100,000 won per month for those with at least one year of continuous service, 150,000 won per month for those with at least three years, and 200,000 won per month for those with at least five years, for up to four payment periods. However, citizens who are already receiving benefits such as the "Employment Incentive" or the "New Start Incentive," which are provided by the Ministry of Unification (Hanawon) to North Korean defectors who have remained employed at the same company for at least six months, will be excluded from this program.
Detailed information on the recruitment of recipients for the employment retention incentive for North Korean defectors in the first half of this year is available on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website. Administrative Director Kwak Jongbin said, "We hope that the employment retention incentive will serve as a strong stepping stone to support the economic self-reliance of North Korean defectors," adding, "This year, by improving the system, including granting extra points to one-person households, we expect to strengthen the foundation for self-reliance of North Korean defectors through more comprehensive support."
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