Gwangjin-gu youth employment program posts 97.7% completion rate, 17 find jobs or launch businesses

Seoul's Gwangjin-gu has wrapped up its 2026 Youth Challenge Support Project, a program aimed at helping discouraged job-seekers re-enter society and the labor market, with high completion rates and strong job placement and business launch numbers.

A total of 139 people participated in this year's program, exceeding the target by 106.9%. Of those, 127 completed the program, a completion rate of 91.4%. Among graduates, 17 secured employment or started their own businesses, while 16 were connected to follow-up youth policy programs.

The Youth Challenge Support Project is a competitive grant program run by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, designed to rebuild confidence among young people who have lost the motivation to seek work and to help them engage with society and enter the labor market.

Gwangjin-gu operated the program through the Seoul Youth Center Gwangjin, offering short-, medium- and long-term tailored tracks based on each participant's circumstances and job-readiness. The district was recognized as an outstanding operator in last year's Ministry of Employment and Labor performance evaluation and delivered tangible results again this year.

Participant satisfaction was also high. Pre-program expectations averaged 4.3 out of 5, but post-program satisfaction rose to 4.8. The program's focus on restoring participants' motivation and social connections — rather than simply providing job information — drove the positive ratings.

Gwangjin-gu held a results-sharing event for the 2026 Youth Challenge Support Project on Oct. 21, drawing about 80 attendees including program participants and representatives from related organizations.

The event featured a report on program outcomes, presentations of standout cases and the presentation of certificates of appreciation to instructors. This year, organizers also held a ceremony recognizing winners of an essay competition in which participants shared their experiences and personal growth, giving young people a chance to celebrate one another's challenges and achievements.

Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said he wanted to send "a heartfelt round of applause to the young people who believed in their own potential and had the courage to take on this challenge," adding that the district would "spare no effort in providing practical and systematic support so that young people can put down stable roots in society and pursue their dreams."