The government will inject 45 billion won in job funds into regions where employment instability has grown due to a slump in key industries such as petrochemicals and steel. The central government will provide financial support to customized projects designed directly by local governments.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) said on the 23rd that it will begin full support for customized job projects in four areas designated as "preemptive response to employment crisis regions": Yeosu in South Jeolla Province, Seosan in South Chungcheong Province, Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province, and Gwangsan District in Gwangju. These regions face heightened concerns over an employment crisis due to deteriorating conditions in key industries such as petrochemicals and steel.
Support by region will be 6 billion won for South Jeolla, 4 billion won for South Chungcheong, 6 billion won for North Gyeongsang, and 2 billion won for Gwangju. The focus is on livelihood support and reemployment promotion for workers in key industries and related upstream and downstream sectors. All four regions will provide subsidies when workers who left crisis-hit industries find new jobs.
Yeosu and Seosan will expand eligibility to include day laborers and freight transport workers, providing 500,000 won for housing, health, and transportation costs. Yeosu will also separately provide an emergency livelihood allowance of 500,000 won to involuntarily unemployed individuals.
Gwangsan District in Gwangju will provide up to 3 million won in living expenses to those subject to employment retention. It will grant up to 2 million won in long-service subsidies to employees in the home appliance and rubber products manufacturing industries.
North Gyeongsang will provide 3 million won in living expenses to workers who suffered wage arrears of 4.5 million won or more at business sites in Pohang and within the province. It will offer 500,000 won for housing, health, transportation, and welfare expenses to all workers in Pohang and to workers at steel corporations within the province.
The ministry plans to soon finalize the scale and scope of support for Nam District in Ulsan and Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province, which were additionally designated this year as preemptive response to employment crisis regions.
Minister Kim Young-hoon said, "This is a cooperation model in which the government helps fill the blind spots identified by regions concerned about an employment crisis," adding, "We will provide support so it becomes a pillar that protects the lives of local residents."