Korea Employment Labor Education Institute, Korea Labor Foundation to merge; Korea JobWorld to absorb subsidiary

The government plans to merge the Korea Employment Labor Education Institute and the Korea Labor Foundation into a tentatively named "Korea Labor Relations Education Foundation." Korea JobWorld will absorb its subsidiary, Korea JobWorld Partners, consolidating career experience service planning and on-site operations under a single management structure.

The government said Thursday it approved a public institution functional reform plan containing these measures at the 11th Public Institutions Policy Committee meeting. The aim is to reduce operational inefficiencies by merging institutions and functions that overlap or duplicate one another.

Under the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Korea Employment Labor Education Institute and the Korea Labor Foundation will be combined into one body, integrating the institute's education functions with the foundation's labor relations support and cooperation-promotion role. The merger is intended to build a comprehensive labor relations support system spanning conflict prevention, education and consulting, and workplace innovation assistance.

Korea JobWorld and Korea JobWorld Partners will pursue a vertical merger of the parent and subsidiary. Korea JobWorld provides career experience and vocational guidance services, while Korea JobWorld Partners handles operational support for exhibition and experience facilities as well as facility and customer services. Combining the two institutions will connect service planning through on-site operations within a single management framework.

The government is also pursuing the transfer of institutions overseen by other ministries. The career transition education center under the Ministry of National Defense will be transferred to Korea University of Technology and Education, and the Korea Disabled People's Development Institute — a foundation under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups — will be transferred to the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities.