Up to 3.25 million won on offer — Dongjak-gu launches convenience store jobs support for seniors and youth leaving care

Dongjak-gu is launching the "2026 Senior and Youth Leaving Care Companion Convenience Store Support Project" to help vulnerable job seekers build stable employment and financial independence.

The project follows Dongjak-gu's selection in April in the Seoul Metropolitan Government's "2026 Walking Together with the Vulnerable" district support program competition. The district designed the initiative in partnership with private convenience stores to build a sustainable employment framework for seniors and youth leaving care.

The program will support 10 local convenience store owners and 4 youth leaving care. Participants who meet the eligibility criteria will receive up to 3.25 million won (approximately $2,160) per store or individual over five months.

Convenience store owners in Dongjak-gu who newly hire a senior resident aged 60 or older — born on or before Dec. 31, 1965 — will receive wage subsidies to ease initial labor costs: 100 percent of the first month's wages and 50 percent of wages for months two through five, calculated in proportion to hours worked.

Youth leaving care who reside in Dongjak-gu, within five years of completing protection at a welfare facility or similar institution, and who take up new employment at a local convenience store will receive 50 percent of their wages for months one through four and 100 percent for month five, proportional to hours worked, to encourage long-term retention.

Both seniors and youth leaving care must sign a work contract for at least 15 hours per week. Hiring subsidies for senior employment are paid directly to the store owner, while support payments for youth leaving care go directly to the individual.

Beyond job placement and financial support, the district will also provide ongoing case management: tailored education covering service mindset and financial literacy, monthly on-site worker guidance and inspections, and re-employment referral services for workers who leave their positions.

Recruitment runs from May 18 through June 30, though applications may close early once eligible participants are secured.

Applicants should check the official notice on the Dongjak-gu district office website, prepare the required documents, and submit them either by email or in person at the Employment Policy Division on the ninth floor of the Dongjak-gu district office.

For further inquiries, visit the official notice page on the Dongjak-gu district office website, scan the QR code on the promotional poster, or contact the Employment Policy Division directly.