Amid AI-Driven Youth Employment Crisis... Ministry of the Interior and Safety Youth Internship Hits Record 19:1 Competition Rate

2,150 Applicants Compete for 114 Youth Internship Positions
Interns Assigned to Headquarters for Six Months of Practical Experience
Fresh Perspectives to Be Reflected in Government Policy

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s six-month "Youth Internship Program" attracted more than 2,000 applicants, resulting in a record-high competition rate of 19:1.

Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is delivering a welcoming speech at the 2026 Ministry of the Interior and Safety Youth Intern Future Leap Launch Ceremony held in the International Conference Room of the Banking Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 3rd. Courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety held a launch ceremony with 114 youth interns at Bankers’ Hall in Seoul on the 3rd, attended by Minister Yoon Hojung.

Since 2023, the ministry has annually recruited around 200 youth interns, divided between the first and second half of the year, to provide them with experience in various fields.

In particular, for this cycle, 2,150 applicants competed for 114 youth internship positions, resulting in the highest-ever competition rate of 19:1.

This trend appears to reflect the recent corporate preference for experienced workers and the changes in industrial structure caused by artificial intelligence (AI), both of which are making it more challenging for young people to find jobs.

This year’s cohort of youth interns consists of 26 men (23%) and 88 women (77%). By age group, there are 75 interns aged 20-25 (66%), 36 interns aged 26-30 (31%), and 3 interns aged 31 and older (3%).

For the next six months, the youth interns will be assigned to the ministry headquarters and affiliated agencies, where they will begin their practical work in earnest.

They will perform a variety of tasks, including data analysis, field inspection support, and data analytics, across key policy areas such as the AI-driven government, balanced regional growth, and disaster and safety management, gaining experience in both policy development and implementation processes.

In particular, the ministry plans to provide youth interns with opportunities to participate in hands-on projects, and to incorporate their creative and fresh perspectives into government policy through field meetings and policy proposals, so that they can contribute as "youth partners" in policymaking.

Even during the internship, the ministry will offer various career support programs, including job counseling and career planning consulting, to help young people explore career paths and support their employment prospects.

In his welcoming address, Minister Yoon Hojung stated, "We will actively support you so that your experience at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety becomes a stepping stone for your further growth," adding, "I hope that what you learn and experience here will serve as a strong foundation for preparing your future career."

Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, and young interns are taking a group commemorative photo at the launch ceremony of the youth interns held on the morning of the 3rd at the International Conference Room of the Korea Federation of Banks Building in Jung-gu, Seoul. Provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.