South Korea's 2026 cash benefit for young Korean workers aged 15–34 taking regular jobs in shortage-industry SMEs (manufacturing, food service, agriculture, fisheries, shipping) or Korean non-metro SMEs — 2,000,000 KRW paid direct to the worker over 3 and 6 months.
| Youth age | Korean residents 15–34 (up to 39 with Korean military service credit) |
| Employment type | Korean open-ended regular position, ≥ 30 hrs/week, Korean employment insurance |
| Wage | ≥ Korean monthly minimum wage (or annualized equivalent) |
| Shortage industries | Korean manufacturing (KSIC Category C), food service, agriculture, shipping, fisheries (on approved Korean list) |
| Non-metro Korea | Korean SMEs outside Seoul / Incheon / Gyeonggi — any industry (expanded in 2026) |
| Excluded youth | Korean CEO's spouse/direct relatives, anyone at same Korean firm in last 6 months, double-dippers with other Korean government wage subsidies |
| 1st payment (3 Korean months tenure) | 1,000,000 KRW direct to Korean bank account |
| 2nd payment (6 Korean months tenure) | 1,000,000 KRW direct to Korean bank account |
| Total Korean youth portion | Up to 2,000,000 KRW |
| Korean employer portion (via Youth Job Leap Type II) | Korean non-metro SMEs: 1.2–1.8M KRW at 6/12/18/24 month milestones |
| Korean delivery | Korean youth applies on Work24 → Korean employment-center review → bank transfer |
| Stacking | Restricted with similar Korean subsidies (e.g., National Employment Support success bonus) |
| Guideline announcement | Jan 2026 Korean MOEL guideline |
| 1st Korean application | From 3 months of Korean tenure, on Work24 |
| 2nd Korean application | From 6 months of Korean tenure (for those who received 1st) |
| Korean payout | Typically within 4–6 weeks of Korean employment center approval |
Korean shortage industries, non-metro scope, and pay rules change each Korean fiscal year. Always confirm on official sources below.
| Korea MOEL Customer Center | 1350 (paid) |
| Work24 Integrated Help | 1577-7114 |
| Your Korean employment center | Find by region on Work24 |
This page summarizes public information from Korea's Ministry of Employment & Labor and Work24 as of April 2026. Korean shortage-industry classifications, non-metro scope, payment amounts, and stacking rules may change with Korean annual guidelines and individual review results; the numbers shown are estimates with no legal effect. From 2026 certain functions were folded into the Korean Youth Job Leap Incentive, so always verify current rules on Work24 and Korean MOEL notices before applying. The operator of this page is not responsible for decisions made solely on the basis of this content. This program applies exclusively to Korean-resident youth and Korean SMEs.
Korea's Job Filling Youth Allowance (일자리 채움 청년지원금 / 빈일자리 청년취업지원금) is a direct-to-youth cash benefit from the Korean Ministry of Employment & Labor designed to encourage young Korean workers aged 15–34 (up to 39 with military credit) to take regular jobs in Korean labor-shortage industries (manufacturing, food service, agriculture, shipping, fisheries on the Korean approved list) or in Korean non-metro SMEs (expanded in 2026). Qualifying Korean youth working ≥ 30 hrs/week at Korean minimum wage or higher receive 1,000,000 KRW at 3 months of tenure and another 1,000,000 KRW at 6 months — 2,000,000 KRW total paid to the youth's own Korean bank account. The Korean employer portion was partially folded into the Youth Job Leap Incentive Type II in 2026, but the direct-to-youth structure continues. Korean applicants file directly on Work24 (work24.go.kr).
As of 2026, all Korean manufacturing (KSIC Category C) plus Korean food service, agriculture, shipping, and fisheries (on the Korean ministry-approved list). From 2026, Korean non-metro SMEs (outside Seoul / Incheon / Gyeonggi) of any industry also qualify. Check your Korean employer's eligibility on Work24 by Korean business number.
Generally only Korean priority-support SMEs qualify; Korean mid-sized (중견) firms are usually excluded, with narrow exceptions in the Korean guideline. Confirm with your Korean employment center or Work24.
The 2nd 1,000,000 KRW requires continuous Korean tenure of at least 6 months at the same employer. Quitting after 3 Korean months forfeits the 2nd payment. Switching to another Korean employer in the same industry soon after may also trigger Korean guideline restrictions.
Stacking with similar Korean wage subsidies (such as the Korean National Employment Support 'success bonus') is generally restricted. Korean asset-formation programs like 청년내일채움공제 are often compatible, but confirm each program's current Korean rules with your employment center before applying.
Less than 30 Korean hours/week disqualifies you in principle. Korean exceptions may apply for pregnancy/childcare-driven reduced hours — consult your Korean employment center with your Korean employment contract and insurance records.
The program is designed for Korean nationals. Some Korean marriage-immigrants may qualify under special conditions — consult your Korean employment center in advance.
South Korea's 2026 Job Filling Youth Allowance (일자리 채움 청년지원금), run by the Korean Ministry of Employment & Labor, pays up to 2,000,000 KRW directly to young Korean workers aged 15–34 (up to 39 with Korean military service credit) who take regular jobs in Korean shortage industries (manufacturing, food service, agriculture, shipping, fisheries on the Korean approved list) or in Korean non-metro SMEs (outside Seoul / Incheon / Gyeonggi, expanded in 2026). Eligible workers must hold an open-ended Korean contract with ≥ 30 hrs/week, at least Korean monthly minimum wage, and Korean employment insurance. 1,000,000 KRW is paid at 3 months and another 1,000,000 KRW at 6 months, deposited directly into the Korean worker's bank account after Work24 application and Korean employment-center review. The Korean employer portion was partly folded into the Korean Youth Job Leap Incentive Type II in 2026, while the youth portion continues. Stacking with the Korean National Employment Support 'success bonus' and similar Korean wage subsidies is restricted, so confirm each program's Korean rules before filing. See details at Work24 (work24.go.kr), Korean MOEL (moel.go.kr), gov.kr, or hotline 1350. This program applies exclusively to Korean-resident youth and Korean SMEs.