Daejeon, Sejong, North and South Chungcheong provinces launch 'Naeilium Project'
Joint employment support, internships planned; relocation workers to receive settlement aid
Daejeon, Sejong, North Chungcheong Province and South Chungcheong Province are joining forces across administrative boundaries to support talent development, employment and regional settlement in the biotech and mobility industries. A combined 4 billion won ($2.95 million) in national and local government funding will be invested this year to expand job opportunities for job seekers at growing companies and help businesses secure the talent they need.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Thursday it held a launch ceremony for the "Chungcheong Region Growth Industry Naeilium Project" at the North Chungcheong Provincial Office, together with the four metropolitan local governments of the Chungcheong region.
The broad regional jobs initiative is a cross-boundary employment program that connects industries and talent across multiple local government jurisdictions. Its core aim is to provide integrated support spanning talent development, employment placement and regional settlement.
This year, the program is being carried out across three regions: the Chungcheong region, the Busan-Ulsan-South Gyeongsang Province area, and the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province area. The Chungcheong region is focusing on the biotech and mobility industries, committing 3.2 billion won in national funds and 800 million won in local government funding.
Key initiatives include cross-regional corporate consortiums to foster the joint growth of companies and talent, shared employment support and labor services across the Chungcheong region, project-based internships and job placement in advanced biotech-health and future mobility sectors, settlement support for workers who relocate or change jobs within the region, and the establishment of a regional jobs governance framework.
The four local governments plan to strengthen the link between industry and talent, turning the Chungcheong region into a single integrated employment zone. The initiative aims to expand job opportunities for young people and other job seekers, help companies recruit talent beyond local boundaries, and provide stable settlement support for workers newly employed in the region.
The launch ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Employment and Labor Kwon Chang-jun, North Chungcheong Governor Shin Yong-han, Sejong Mayor Jo Sang-ho, South Chungcheong Governor Park Soo-hyun and Daejeon Deputy Mayor for Administration Park Yeon-byeong.
"If Daejeon, Sejong, North Chungcheong and South Chungcheong each bring their strengths together based on their geographic ties, the Chungcheong region can grow into the heart of employment in South Korea," Kwon said. "I hope this project will bring about real change on the ground — where people come, jobs connect, and regions and businesses grow together."
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