Labor ministry announces 274 hires at Geunro Bokji Gongdan

South Korea's labor ministry said Sunday Geunro Bokji Gongdan will hire 274 new employees in the second half of 2026, its largest intake in three years, to support insurance-system reforms and expand protection for workers outside existing safety nets.

The hiring also follows the government's policy to expand jobs for young people, the ministry said. The recruits will help prepare an income-based coverage and contribution system due to take effect in January 2027 and shorten processing times for occupational disease cases. The agency said the new staff will improve the quality of industrial accident and employment insurance services and strengthen the social safety net for changing labor conditions.

The agency plans to provide tailored services to platform workers, freelancers and small-business workers. The system overhaul is intended to strengthen unemployment protection for low-income short-hours workers and those with multiple jobs.

Geunro Bokji Gongdan is also recruiting 204 doctors, nurses and other medical personnel for its Ulsan hospital, due to open in September. After posting the positions in July, it is now conducting the selection process. The agency said it will secure the specialists needed for the opening and strengthen the regional public healthcare base.

Applications will be accepted through the online recruitment site from Aug. 12 through 6 p.m. on Aug. 19. Final candidates will be announced Nov. 24, with appointees set to start as employment-linked interns Dec. 14 before a three-month evaluation for permanent jobs. The agency plans to offer mentoring and tailored training programs for new employees.

"This recruitment is a catalyst for putting into practice, on the ground, a labor-respecting society in which all working people are protected without discrimination as the work environment changes," Park Jong-gil, the agency's chairman, said.