As Korean society ages, the Ministry of Labor and Employment said it will consider raising the age limit for its job training program to 69. 

The Labor Ministry said it will also consider giving retirement benefits to some people 65 and older who weren’t qualified in the past. The ministry said such plans will help more middle-aged Koreans find jobs, particularly at small and mid-sized companies that have a hard time finding new workers. 

The government’s plans also include addressing the high youth unemployment rate. 
The ministry said it will execute a budget to help young Koreans get jobs, which has been expanded by 9.5 percent year on year to 2.6 trillion won ($2.15 billion), as early as it can. 

The government said there are too few vocational high schools in the country and that the number should increase. The ministry said it will come up with details about expanding the number of vocational schools by next month.

Source : http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3028455

 

Commentary by Jeonghwa Hong

Currently, a high unemployment of university graduates is a big social problem, of which phenomena are there are university graduates who go to a vocational college to acquire skills and high school leavers who failed to enter a university enrol at hagwons(private institutes) which prepare enrollers for the national examinations to be government officers.   

In the midst of such a reality where a university degree doesn’t guarantee an employment arises the question of whether you must go to a university. Some have already begun to give a weight to practical skills over ‘just’ paper degree certificates. If this spirit spreads, reflections on vocational education and training will ensue and a light will be shed on it accordingly.

In line with this, Korea Polytechnic colleges can be introduced. KOPO comprises 11 colleges with 37 campuses, which has been designated as the state-funded special colleges under the Ministry of labour and Employment. They offer a wide range of programmes such as degrees, non-degrees, for unemployed and employed. For details, please visit http://www.kopo.ac.kr/en/index.do, from which  you might find leeway to think about developing business opportunities with them in the name of partnerships.