Wanju County in North Jeolla Province is set to operate its largest-ever senior employment and social activity support program, involving 4,867 participants.
According to the county on July 29, this number represents an increase of 347 from the previous year.
The county has secured a total budget of 22.1 billion won and plans to allocate additional funds through supplementary budgets to expand the program.
In particular, the county aims to establish a specialized execution system for senior employment centered around senior clubs, while strengthening collaboration with existing organizations such as the Wanju branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association and the Yangjiteul Social Cooperative to enhance the program's professionalism and efficiency.
Over the past four years, the county has consistently expanded its senior employment initiatives.
The scale of the program has grown from 52 project teams and 2,555 participants in 2022 to 74 project teams and 4,867 participants in 2026, marking increases of 22 project teams and 2,312 participants, respectively.
The program budget has also expanded significantly, from 8.9 billion won to 22.1 billion won, an increase of nearly 13.2 billion won, or 1.5 times.
Looking ahead, the county plans to continue identifying tailored job opportunities that reflect local characteristics and the diverse experiences and skills of seniors. It aims to expand quality job offerings, including market-oriented project teams and senior capability utilization projects, to actively support seniors' social participation and stable income activities.
Wanju County Mayor Yoo Hee-tae stated, “Senior employment is a crucial policy that supports not only income preservation for seniors but also healthy aging and social participation. We will continue to build a specialized execution system centered around senior clubs and expand quality, tailored job opportunities for seniors to ensure they can enjoy vibrant later years.”
As of the end of June this year, the population aged 65 and older in the county stands at 27,560, accounting for 27.53% of the total population.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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