By Park Jong-il, senior reporter Gwanak-gu's youth employment support program "Catch That JOB in Gwanak!" — launched to boost job-seeking motivation and ease the transition to employment for long-term unemployed youth — is drawing strong praise for driving both inner growth and tangible hiring outcomes among participants.
The district moved away from simple résumé-building and job-skill instruction, instead adopting an "emotional independence" strategy that encourages participants to form their own tight peer networks. As a result, the first mid-term session (an 18-week course) that wrapped up July 2 had already produced three early job placements before it even concluded.
The program was designed to re-engage young people whose confidence had eroded during gaps in employment. This year's first mid-term session built on the results of earlier short-term courses, running a more intensive curriculum focused on resetting job-search goals, shifting job-seeking attitudes and building a social safety net — giving the session a distinctly deeper character.
Participants took the lead in organizing voluntary small-group activities — club outings and one-day classes, as well as a group watch party for the 2026 World Cup. Through these gatherings, they forged strong bonds with one another, creating their own social support base that helped ease the isolation and anxiety that had come with prolonged unemployment and restore a sense of emotional stability.
The shift was clearly visible in participants' attitudes toward job-seeking. One graduate said the program had greatly improved her understanding of employment and entrepreneurship, which had previously felt vague and out of reach. "I've broken free from the passivity that came with a long career gap," she said, "and I've gained the confidence to set a concrete direction and actually act on it."
The district is also going beyond one-time education support, launching a tailored follow-up program called "Skill Up Class" — geared to each participant's individual strengths and career aspirations — to accelerate youth employment assistance.
Skill Up Class focuses on diversifying career pathways rather than narrowing in on job placement alone. The district plans to run group employment consulting and one-on-one interview coaching alongside a range of practical skills courses — including Notion mastery, character content creation and Photoshop — to broaden participants' real-world career options.
The second mid-term session and the long-term course of Gwanak-gu's youth employment support program are also currently under way. Updates on program activities are available on the Gwanak Youth Center website and official social media channels; inquiries can be directed to the center.
District Mayor Park Jun-hee said the office would do its utmost in follow-up support "so that the healthy social networks participants have built become a solid foundation for their continued job search and stable entry into society — not just a certificate to hang on the wall."
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