Incheon's Jeomulpo-gu designated preemptive employment crisis zone, expanding support for steel industry workers

Incheon city said Thursday it will push ahead with employment stability support programs for workers and companies in the local steel industry, after the Ministry of Employment and Labor designated Jeomulpo-gu as a preemptive employment crisis zone on Thursday.

The designation is a proactive measure to address deepening job insecurity caused by a prolonged slump in the steel industry.

With the designation, Jeomulpo-gu gains priority access to a range of employment support programs, including job retention assistance, vocational training and livelihood stability support.

Incheon city said it plans to use the designation as an opportunity to strengthen the employment base in the steel sector and expand support for restoring the local industrial ecosystem.

The city has secured 4 billion won ($2.65 million) in national government funding to run the Incheon Steel Industry Buteomieeum Project, aimed at helping workers and businesses weather the crisis.

The project provides tailored assistance across several areas: employment stability for current workers, livelihood support for involuntary retirees, and aid for freight transport workers tied to the steel supply chain.

Implementation is progressing steadily. Of the 5,250 people targeted for support, 1,265 have applied so far, and 1,096 — including conditional approvals — have been selected as beneficiaries. The total amount approved to date stands at 689 million won.

To improve the program's effectiveness, the city also plans to refine the system based on feedback from the field. It intends to broaden the criteria for recognizing involuntary retirement, expand support for workers in upstream and downstream industries, and align program standards with ongoing administrative restructuring.