Jongno-gu mayor signs jobs plan as first official act

Jongno-gu Mayor Yu Chan-jong kicked off his administration's core campaign pledge of "jobs and livelihood vitality" on the first day of the ninth directly elected term by signing the "Jongno-type jobs and commercial district co-prosperity plan" as his first official act.

Jongno-gu is focusing its efforts on a public-private partnership jobs project aimed at expanding sustainable employment linked to private-sector hiring and local industries. The central government, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the district office and private partners will together pool 63 billion won ($40.7 million) with a goal of employing 8,000 people this year.

Earlier, Yu laid out his vision for Jongno-gu as a "cultural and economic hub city," presenting six key priorities that include a welfare city built on mutual care, a jobs-centered economic city and a lifelong education and future city.

The district's six-area jobs plan is closely tied to residents' daily lives. At its core, the care services sector will match tailored care demand with local workers to serve vulnerable groups including the elderly, people with disabilities and those in self-sufficiency programs.

The environmental and safety management sector will expand locally specialized jobs that protect the district's historical and cultural assets and hire personnel to crack down on illegal dumping. The public facilities management sector will deploy community-focused workers to maintain parks, libraries and plazas. The tourism and culture sector will partner with tourism resources in Insadong, Daehangno, Bukchon and Seochon to strengthen competitiveness.

The public administration sector will create hands-on positions such as a youth administrative experience corps to build young people's administrative capabilities. The local specialization and public-private cooperation sector will train skilled workers in the garment and jewelry industries and work to boost the competitiveness of local industries.

Starting Tuesday, the district office will operate a jobs platform section on its website, bringing together public and private job listings from affiliated agencies and external platforms, along with employment training and other job-related information in one place to make it easier for residents to find work.

Meanwhile, Yu visited the Seoul National Cemetery on Tuesday morning before signing the jobs and commercial district co-prosperity plan as his first official act. His inauguration ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the main auditorium on the second floor of the Jongno Community Center.

"I will keep my promise to govern as residents wish, to benefit the people of Jongno-gu, and to renew Jongno," Yu said. "I will steadily turn campaign pledges — starting with job creation — into reality, listen more closely to residents' voices and work at their level."