Employers in Incheon may receive up to KRW 4 million when they hire an eligible woman through the 2026 Saeil Women’s Internship Program. The intern may also receive KRW 600,000 after the employment-retention requirement is met.
The program is operated by the Bupyeong Women’s Reemployment Center under the Incheon Foundation for Women and Family. It is designed to help women returning to the workforce gain practical experience and remain in stable employment.
The posted application window runs from January 12 through September 30, 2026. However, recruitment may close earlier when the program budget is exhausted. Employers should confirm availability with the center before finalizing a hire.
How much support is available?
The employer subsidy is paid in stages rather than as a single lump sum.
- Internship hiring subsidy: KRW 800,000 per month for three months, totaling KRW 2.4 million for the employer.
- First employment-retention payment: KRW 800,000 for the employer when the intern is retained in regular or ongoing employment for at least six months after the internship. The intern receives KRW 600,000 at this stage.
- Second employment-retention payment: An additional KRW 800,000 for the employer after 12 months of continued employment.
An employer that satisfies every stage may receive a total of KRW 4 million. The intern may receive KRW 600,000. Each payment is subject to the applicable documentation and retention requirements.
Which employers are eligible?
- The workplace must have at least five but fewer than 1,000 regular employees.
- The workplace must be enrolled in Korea’s four major social insurance programs.
- The employer must register the vacancy on Work24 and consent to sharing the job information with a Women’s Reemployment Center.
- The employer generally must not have a record of employer-initiated dismissal during the three months before the internship start date.
- For a workplace participating for the first time, the dismissal-history review period is one month.
A company with a previous Saeil internship record may participate again only after one year has passed since the earlier internship ended. The center makes the final eligibility determination.
Who can participate as an intern?
The participant must be an unemployed female job seeker registered on Work24 and linked to a Women’s Reemployment Center. The program primarily supports women whose careers have been interrupted or who otherwise need assistance returning to employment.
A job seeker may be introduced by the Bupyeong center. A person who applied independently may also be considered if the required center linkage is completed. Anyone who previously participated must wait one year after that internship ends before participating again.
Required working conditions
- For full-time work of at least 35 hours per week, the wage must meet or exceed the applicable minimum wage.
- For a part-time position of at least 20 but fewer than 35 hours per week, the wage must be at least 110% of the applicable minimum wage.
- Priority matching may be available when the employer hires a woman from a vulnerable group.
The subsidy does not replace the employer’s obligations concerning wages, employment contracts, social insurance, and other labor standards.
How to apply
- Register the vacancy on Work24.
- Contact the Bupyeong Women’s Reemployment Center to confirm current funding and eligibility.
- Submit the employer participation documents and undergo the center’s review.
- Complete candidate matching and sign the internship agreement before the internship begins.
- Apply for the internship hiring subsidy after completing the required internship period.
- If the intern is retained, apply separately for the six-month and 12-month retention payments.
Do not assume that a worker hired first can automatically be registered later. Employers should speak with the center before confirming the start date.
Application period and contact
- Posted application period: January 12–September 30, 2026
- Closing condition: May close early when the budget is exhausted
- Operating organization: Bupyeong Women’s Reemployment Center, Incheon Foundation for Women and Family
- Telephone: 032-511-3161
- Selection: The BizOK notice lists 54 participating companies, selected through review
Official information
The application notice and forms are available through the official Incheon BizOK announcement. The detailed subsidy schedule and eligibility conditions are published by the Incheon Foundation for Women and Family. General information is available from the official Women’s Reemployment Center portal.
Before applying
Confirm the employee count, social-insurance enrollment, dismissal history, working hours, wage level, and prior participation. Because funding is limited, call the Bupyeong center first to check whether applications are still being accepted.
This article is based on official information checked on July 29, 2026. Program funding, required documents, and detailed eligibility rules may change. Confirm the latest requirements with the operating center before hiring or applying.