How to Make Money with Korea’s National Employment Support Program (2026 Job-Seeking Allowance of 600,000 KRW a Month)

📘 Full practical guide (October 2026)

✅ Who qualifies (Type I summary)

• Requirement-based: age 15–69, household income at or below 60% of median income, assets ₩400 million or less (₩500 million for youth), and at least 100 days or 800 hours of work in the last 2 years.
• Selection-based: same income and asset limits but less work history; places depend on budget.
• Youth track: age 15–34 (extended by military service, up to 37), household income at or below 120% of median, assets ₩500 million or less; places depend on budget.

🪜 Step-by-step on Work24

1. Register as a job seeker. Create a Work24 account and complete job seeker registration (구직신청) first; the application button stays locked without it. Enter your preferred job, region and experience.
2. Watch the guidance video. In the National Employment Support menu, watch the required video to the end.
3. Apply. Go to “National Employment Support → apply”. Enter every household member correctly, because the dependant top-up is decided here. You can also apply on paper at your local job centre.
4. Wait for the decision. The job centre checks income, assets and work history and replies by text or on Work24. Send any extra documents quickly.
5. Build your plan (IAP). At the first counselling session you agree on activities such as job applications, training or counselling. The first allowance is paid once the plan is set. Plan only what you can really do.
6. Carry it out and report monthly. Submit the activity report and payment request; from the second payment you are paid every month from the plan date. Report any part-time income.
7. After you get a job. Eligible participants can apply for the success bonus after 6 and 12 months of continued work.

🧮 Worked example

A job seeker with one child under 18 who qualifies for Type I: ₩600,000 + ₩100,000 = ₩700,000 a month, or up to ₩4.2 million over 6 months, as long as the monthly activities are done. Illustrative only.

🔗 Official sources

• Work24 — registration and application
• Ministry of Employment and Labor — 2026 allowance notice
• Gov24 — benefit search (보조금24)
• Employment and Labor Customer Centre: phone 1350

📅 First-week plan

• Day 1: Work24 sign-up and job seeker registration.
• Day 2: Watch the guidance video.
• Day 3: List household members and income.
• Day 4: Submit the application.
• Day 5: Finish one CV (needed at counselling).
• Day 6: Save 5 job ads in fields you want.
• Day 7: Check for messages from the job centre and prepare any extra documents.

🚫 Common mistakes

• Trying to apply without job seeker registration.
• Leaving out household members and losing the dependant top-up.
• Doing activities that are not in your plan; they are not counted.
• Not reporting income, then having to pay money back.
• Missing payments three times without good reason can end your right to the rest of the allowance.

⚠️ Watch out for scams

Anyone charging a fee to “apply for you” or asking for your Work24 ID and password is not official. Applying is free and you do it yourself on Work24 or at a job centre. Never lend your bank account for “easy high pay” offers on job sites; it can be used for crime.

📚 Related guides

• Job-seeking benefit (unemployment benefit), 2026 rules
• National Tomorrow Learning Card (국민내일배움카드): Eligibility, Support, Co-pay, How to Apply
• How to Make Money as a Student or Homemaker: Official Job Options
• Finding Forgotten Money in Korea (Official Services Only)
• Work-From-Home Job Scams: 7 Types, Red Flags and What to Do (Korea, 2026)

Last updated: October 29, 2026. General information; check final rules with your job centre.