Busan Metropolitan City is recruiting 1,000 participants for its "Youth Stepping Stone Card+" program to help job-seeking young people enter the workforce. The initiative aims to ease financial burdens during job preparation and provide practical support for employment and entrepreneurship capabilities. The application period runs from the 9th to the 27th of this month.
The program provides monthly payments of 300,000 won in points for six months—up to 1.8 million won total—to unemployed youth aged 18 to 39 residing in Busan whose household income is at or below 150% of the 2025 median income level.
Recipients will be selected through a lottery system based on income brackets: 700 people from households at or below 100% of median income, and 300 from those between 100% and 150%. Support is limited to once per lifetime. Beyond simple activity stipends, the program also connects participants with employment and entrepreneurship capability-building programs.
The points can be used for direct job-seeking expenses such as certification fees, exam registration fees, academy tuition, and interview transportation costs, as well as indirect costs including meals and health management. This year, software, electronic devices, and lenses and eyeglasses have been added to eligible direct expense categories for greater convenience. However, spending is restricted at certain businesses unrelated to job-seeking, including liquor stores and businesses selling furniture, jewelry, and pet-related products.
Notably, participants who successfully secure employment or start a business within the six-month program period will receive an additional 300,000 points in Dongbaekjeon, Busan's local currency, as a "success bonus." This mechanism encourages early employment beyond short-term support.
Applications can be submitted online through the "Youth Stepping Stone Card+" website. The city plans to finalize recipients in April, conduct preliminary training, and disburse 300,000 won monthly from May through October. Further details are available on the Busan Youth Platform and the program website announcements.