Korea Labor Foundation launches cross-generational supporters group for midlife career centers

The Korea Labor Foundation has launched a supporters group for its midlife career centers, bringing together young adults and middle-aged participants to strengthen promotional efforts with content that reflects perspectives across generations. Breaking from its previous focus on middle-aged users, the foundation has expanded eligibility to include people in their 20s and 30s.

The foundation held a launch ceremony for the supporters group Thursday at its main auditorium on Chungjeong-ro in Seoul, marking the start of full-scale activities. The event was also streamed via Zoom for participants unable to attend in person, allowing supporters from across the country to take part.

The ceremony included the presentation of appointment certificates and a commemorative photo, followed by an introduction to the midlife career centers' programs, an orientation on supporters' activities, and a workshop on producing SNS content. The foundation said the joint participation of people in their 20s and 30s alongside those in their 40s and 60s added meaning to the event as an exercise in intergenerational communication.

Now in its fifth year, the supporters program has also undergone changes to how it operates. Previously, members were selected primarily from among users of the midlife career centers, but this year the foundation opened applications to the general public for the first time. Eligibility was expanded from the previous 40-to-60 age range to include those in their 20s and 30s, and the number of members was doubled from 10 to 20.

The foundation plans to combine the digital content skills of younger participants with the firsthand service experience of middle-aged members to produce promotional content that resonates with the broader public. Supporters will take on a range of activities, including creating content that introduces the centers' key programs and policies, experiencing services firsthand, conducting online and offline outreach, and submitting policy suggestions.

"We hope the supporters group will serve as a bridge connecting the foundation with the public through the eyes of diverse generations," said Park Jong-pil, secretary-general of the Korea Labor Foundation. "We will continue to actively reflect the public's voice and deliver midlife employment services that more people can relate to and feel the benefit of."