Kumho Electric, Socialbean, C-net, IQ Lab, and Hanmi Hydraulic Machinery have been recognized for leading efforts to expand youth hiring and create quality jobs in Busan. The city presented these companies with certificates and plaques as "2026 Outstanding Youth Employers" at City Hall on the 13th.
The Outstanding Youth Employer program selects firms from among the city's designated "Chunggeul (youth-attracting) companies," based on a comprehensive assessment of youth hiring growth over the past three years, job quality, working environment, and corporate growth potential. This year, 23 companies applied, and five were ultimately chosen after a three-stage review involving document screening, on-site inspection, and interviews.
The selected companies represent the region's key and future industries, including shipbuilding equipment, power semiconductors, information and communications technology (ICT), and consumer goods. Among them are Socialbean, Busan's first pre-unicorn company; IQ Lab, a power semiconductor firm; Kumho Electric, a specialist in eco-friendly ship equipment; C-net, a shipbuilding and marine ICT company; and Hanmi Hydraulic Machinery, a specialist in hydraulic machinery for ship engines.
In addition to certificates and plaques, these companies will receive up to 40 million won in "Good Workplace Enhancement Support" funding. They will also receive various administrative and tax benefits, including acquisition tax reductions on newly acquired business real estate and deferrals of local tax audits.
The city plans to expand employment programs linked with universities, centered on Outstanding Youth Employers and Chunggeul companies, and to strengthen support that allows young people to directly experience outstanding local firms and go on to employment. In September, the city will hold a "Mega Recruitment Fair" featuring Chunggeul companies to expand connections between local firms and young people.
The city believes that fostering companies offering the working environments and growth opportunities young people prefer is more important than simply expanding hiring to prevent the outflow of the youth population, and it plans to continue expanding its search for youth-friendly companies.
"Realizing Busan as a global maritime capital and creating a city where young people can learn, work, grow, and settle is at the heart of the youth policy of the ninth popularly elected administration," Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said. "Since Outstanding Youth Employers are the starting point that connects young people to good jobs and companies to talented people, we will build a Busan-style youth employment ecosystem where young people and companies grow together."
