Seoul's Nowon-gu has launched "Dalpaengi Sangsa," a work-experience program designed to help youth with borderline intelligence enter society and achieve independence, District Mayor Seo Jun-o announced.
The program targets Seoul residents between the ages of 18 and 39 with borderline intelligence, offering tailored convenience store job training and hands-on work experience to support a stable transition into society. It was created to help young people who struggle in the general job market, and was selected for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's 2026 "Walking With the Vulnerable" district support project in recognition of its policy value in addressing gaps in employment access.
The program runs in stages through the Nowon Youth Work-Life Center, the district's youth support institution. Starting Aug. 13 through Sept. 18, participants will complete a 12-session "gap job training" course covering workplace basics — such as greetings and punctuality — as well as practical convenience store skills including customer service, product display and expiration date checks, through repeated practice. Graduates of the training will then be placed at actual convenience store locations under the "Dalpaengi Work Experience" phase, where they will build job adaptability and confidence.
To ensure participants can gain work experience in a safe environment, the district signed an MOU on July 2 with three local self-sufficiency centers — Seoul Nowon, Seoul Nowon South and Seoul Nowon North — to support the social entry and work experience of employment-vulnerable youth.
The MOU covers identifying and connecting employment-vulnerable youth with the program, supporting job training and on-site work experience, identifying local workplaces and expanding cooperation, and building a youth-tailored support system.
Under the agreement, nine convenience stores operated by the self-sufficiency centers will serve as work-experience sites. The centers will draw on their field experience and infrastructure to help participants adapt to the workplace, and will also provide on-site support including mentoring by store owners.
Eligible applicants must be Seoul residents between the ages of 18 and 39 with borderline intelligence. Those with Wechsler intelligence test results showing an IQ of 71 to 84, or a completed adult borderline intelligence screening checklist, may apply. Applications are accepted through Sunday via the Nowon Youth Work-Life Center website, and final participants will be selected through interviews.
"The goal of this project is to help youth with borderline intelligence take their first steps into society at their own pace and build a stable, independent life," District Mayor Seo said. "We will continue to put in place a close-knit support system that nurtures the potential of each and every young person, so that no one in Nowon is left behind."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
