Health ministry holds training to boost youth social service quality

The health ministry said Friday it held a training session to strengthen the capabilities of young workers delivering social services. The event targeted approximately 100 providers from 24 project teams in 12 cities and provinces to enhance their employment and startup competencies.

Held at the Government Complex Sejong Convention Center, the session included modules on identifying personal strengths for career networking and strategies for job hunting and entrepreneurship using artificial intelligence. Participants reviewed case studies of youth-led startups to discuss methods for improving service quality.

Selected earlier this year through a public competition, the participating organizations include university industry-academic cooperation foundations and social welfare corporations that employ young people for more than 80 percent of their workforce. These teams provide services such as youth physical health promotion and elementary school care, covering learning support and artistic creativity assistance.

Yoo Ju-heon, the ministry's social service policy officer, said the government will actively support these initiatives to offer young people work experience and opportunities for social participation while providing high-quality services to the public.

"We will expand education and hands-on opportunities so that young people working in the project teams can receive practical help," Yoo said. "Through activating these teams, we aim to provide higher-quality social services to local communities and inject vitality into the social service market."

Looking ahead, the ministry plans to operate various programs including kickoff ceremonies and mentorship sessions between outstanding and new institutions to expand exchange and communication among young workers. The government covers personnel costs for the project teams and funds capacity-building education programs.