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Busan Announces “2025 Comprehensive Employment Policy Plan” Aiming to Create 192,000 Jobs

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) has announced the “2025 Comprehensive Employment Policy Plan” to position Busan as a future-oriented, citizen-centered city of employment.

The city plans to invest a total of KRW 2.1 trillion this year to create 192,000 jobs and achieve an employment rate of 67.1% for people aged 15 to 64.

This year’s plan is based on the “Comprehensive Employment Policy Plan of the 8th Civil Administration” and reflects recent changes in the labor market. 

It also sets detailed targets such as a youth employment rate (ages 15–29) of 46.3%, a female employment rate (ages 15–64) of 59.0%, and 940,000 full-time workers.

In anticipation of ongoing difficulties in the job market, the city has set its job creation target at the highest level ever—more than 190,000 jobs—to stabilize the local labor market and support employment generation.

The comprehensive plan is built on the vision of “Busan, a Future Job-Centered City for Citizens’ Happiness,” and consists of four key strategies and 16 specific implementation tasks:

1. Revitalizing the local labor market,

2. Creating jobs through innovation and growth,

3. Establishing the foundation for future jobs, and

4. Creating customized jobs for different demographic groups.

1. Revitalizing the Local Labor Market:

The city will strengthen job creation in regional specialized industries such as tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), and improve employment services to address mismatches in the labor market.

Programs include expanding the “4050 Employment Promotion Program” for middle-aged full-time employment and launching a new “Small Business Employment Transition Package” to support business owners wishing to change jobs due to economic downturns.

2. Job Creation through Innovation and Growth:

Efforts will focus on fostering digital talent and building a digital industrial base to promote digital transformation of the local economy.

Busan will also nurture future high-tech industries such as semiconductors, new materials, and future mobility while advancing traditional key industries such as machinery, footwear, textiles, shipbuilding, and equipment.

The city will identify and support leading “Busan-type anchor companies” to drive local corporate innovation, and provide KRW 893 billion in policy funds—KRW 31.5 billion more than last year—to help SMEs overcome financial challenges and grow sustainably.

3. Establishing the Foundation for Future Jobs:

The city will focus on attracting investment from leading companies, especially in advanced industries. Through the full implementation of the “Regional Innovation System for University Support” (RISE), Busan will support innovation in local companies and universities.

The Busan Technology Startup Investment Agency will play a central role in fostering promising startups and building a sustainable startup ecosystem.

The city also aims to become a financial hub by establishing a Financial Opportunity Zone, relocating the Korea Development Bank, and nurturing the digital finance industry. Notably, it will launch the “Busan Industrial Transition Green Fund” worth KRW 2.3 trillion through 2033 to lead the shift toward a high value-added industrial structure.

4. Customized Jobs by Demographic:

Busan will provide tailored employment support for various groups, including youth, women, seniors, and people with disabilities.

The city will expand the “Youth Job Growth Project,” which offers comprehensive support from job seeking to workplace adaptation and employment retention.

It will also scale up programs such as the “Busan Youth Joy at Work Card” and “Double Joy Savings Account” to enhance youth motivation for employment.

In addition, the city will double the number of “Our Neighborhood ESG Centers” (from 5 to 10) to continue expanding environmentally friendly senior jobs.

More detailed information about the “2025 Comprehensive Employment Policy Plan” is available on the city’s information disclosure site: www.busan.go.kr/ghopen09

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated,

“With the 2025 Comprehensive Employment Policy Plan as a cornerstone, we will make continuous efforts to revitalize the labor market and promote locally driven job creation. In particular, we will support vulnerable groups in the labor market to stabilize livelihoods and actively pursue the creation of future jobs in digital and eco-friendly industries.”