Even after deciding to look for a new job, it's often unclear where to start preparing. The right support agency depends on why your career was interrupted and your age.
1If your career was interrupted by marriage or childcare — the Women's New Job Center (Saeil Center)
This Ministry of Gender Equality and Family agency supports women whose careers were interrupted by marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare, offering step-by-step support from career counseling to vocational training, the Saeil Women's Internship program, job placement, and post-employment follow-up. You can find your nearest Saeil Center on the website and book an in-person consultation, and also apply for free training courses by occupation. It also offers career-break prevention counseling for women who are still employed but at risk. Main phone number: 1544-1199.
2If you're 40 or older and currently employed, about to retire, or already retired — the Middle-Aged and Senior Job Center
This Ministry of Employment and Labor-commissioned agency provides tailored services at every stage of employment for middle-aged and older workers — lifetime career-design counseling for those still employed, transition support for those about to retire, and re-employment support for those who have already retired. Centers nationwide offer one-on-one career counseling and résumé/interview coaching, and online learning content lets you prepare on your own schedule. Workplaces with many employees nearing retirement can also apply, as a business, for group transition-support training.
3Regardless of age or situation, register as a jobseeker on Work24
Even after getting counseling from the agencies above, you still need to apply as a jobseeker and search for government-funded vocational training through Work24. Job search, jobseeker registration, unemployment benefit eligibility checks and applications, and vocational training search are all integrated in one place, so the training courses recommended by a counseling agency are often applied for here as well.
Services mentioned in this guide
Women's New Job Center (Saeil Center)
A Ministry of Gender Equality and Family employment support organization that provides free vocational education, internships, and job placement for women whose careers were interrupted by marriage, childcare, and similar reasons
Weekdays 09:00-18:00 (varies by center)
Operated by · 여성가족부
Cost · Free
Middle-Aged and Senior Job Center
A Korea Labor and Management Development Foundation service that provides free lifetime career design, career-transition support, and re-employment support for employees and (soon-to-be) retirees aged 40 and older
Weekdays 09:00-18:00
Operated by · 노사발전재단(고용노동부)
Cost · Free
Work24 (Worknet / Unemployment Benefits)
The Ministry of Employment and Labor's main job-search portal, unifying job registration, unemployment benefit applications, and job-training search in one place
24 hours
Operated by · 고용노동부
Cost · Free