Jeju expands job opportunities to bring overseas Korean youth into local workforce

As provincial communities struggle with declining populations and labor shortages, island authorities and national agencies are collaborating to rejuvenate local economies. The Overseas Koreans Agency has entered into a strategic partnership with Cheju Halla University to attract young ethnic Koreans from abroad, aiming to provide them with specialized education, professional training, and long-term employment opportunities directly on the resort island.

This move is particularly timely for Jeju, which has experienced a significant demographic shift after more than a decade of uninterrupted growth. Recent government figures indicate a growing net population loss, mainly attributed to a migration of residents in their 20s seeking better career and educational opportunities in the bustling city of Seoul.

Concurrently, regional economic sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and healthcare are grappling with mounting labor deficits. The recently finalized agreement sets a framework to guide overseas Korean youth toward these essential industries. As part of the arrangement, Cheju Halla University will enhance its vocational programs to cater to this target demographic.