![Ko Chi-hwan, head of the communication and cooperation division at the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (third from right), Cho Young-je, director of Daejawon in Gyeongju (third from left), and Park Jin-su, secretary general of Gyeongju Sungaewon (second from right), pose for a photo at the Safe Klover third-cohort launch ceremony on Wednesday. [Korea Radioactive Waste Agency]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/05/news-p.v1.20260605.145e874e33b14b3199cc3d84c39fb4cb_P1.jpeg)
The Korea Radioactive Waste Agency held the launch ceremony for the third cohort of its "Safe Klover" youth independence program Wednesday at its headquarters in Gyeongju, in partnership with local child welfare facilities Daejawon and Sungaewon.
Ko Chi-hwan, head of the agency's communication and cooperation division, attended the event alongside key officials from both facilities.
Safe Klover — whose name derives from the Korean word for three-leaf clover — launched in 2024 to help residents of child welfare facilities aged 18 and older build the skills needed for independent living before leaving care. Now in its third year, the program offers 12 modules covering emotional support, daily life skills and career development, running through the end of the year.
A total of 20 young people have participated in Safe Klover since its inception. Of those, five secured employment, including three hired as interns at the agency.
The program has also drawn national recognition: it won the grand prize at the Prime Minister's Office-organized Citizen Empathy Idea Contest in 2024 and received the Minister of Education Award at the 2025 Fair Hiring Excellence Awards.
"The agency will continue to fulfill its social responsibilities as a public institution, build a safety net for youth in the local community and contribute to regional development," Ko said.
kbj7653@heraldcorp.com
