Senior Career Centers

[Anchor Lead]

As Korean society grows older, senior citizens centers in each neighborhood are transforming as workplaces or job search hubs for the elderly. Let’s take a look.

[Pkg]

This workplace is equipped with a large oven and a refrigerated storage unit. Workers are busy making fruit preserves. The workers here are all elderly people living nearby. This neighborhood senior citizens center has transformed into an environment-friendly food company. Its products are sold in department stores, since they use organic fruits and the preserves are exceptionally tasty.

[Soundbite] Kim Sun-i(Seoul Resident) : "It'd be better if the pay was good, but I'm just grateful that there are jobs for the elderly."

Mr. Jeong Yong-hwan has been in charge of delivering packages to this apartment for the past four years. He got this job at the senior citizens center in his neighborhood. Since he lives in the neighborhood, he knows what is going on with most of the residents. The job also isn't physically taxing, as he only works about three hours a day.

[Soundbite] Jeong Yong-hwan(Seoul Resident) : "I'm just earning my allowance and keeping myself fit. Staying idle at home or outside wouldn't do me good."

This job creation program was launched jointly by a neighborhood senior citizens center and private businesses. Now the program offers a variety of jobs.

[Soundbite] Yun Seong-yeol(Seongbuk-gu District Office) : "By having the senior citizens center work with businesses, product quality was upgraded and consumers came to have more buying power. It also created more stable and sustainable jobs for the elderly."

In a rapidly aging society, senior citizens centers are fast becoming the base for job creation for the elderly.