The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in São Paulo (Consul General Chae Jin-won, hereinafter referred to as the Consulate General) has announced the Overseas Koreans Agency’s “Overseas Korean Youth Employment Support Program,” which ethnic Korean youth in Brazil can participate in, and requested the Korean community's interest.

This program is designed for ethnic Korean youth from a total of 12 countries—including Central and South American regions such as Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, and Paraguay, as well as China, Russia, and Kazakhstan—to receive professional vocational training in South Korea and prepare for employment and settlement.

Prepared for the first time this year by the Overseas Koreans Agency, the core of the program is to provide more than just simple technical training to ethnic Korean youth preparing for a new future in their motherland; it systematically supports them step-by-step from Korean language education to professional vocational training, acquiring national certificates, and securing employment and settlement in Korean society. Participants will receive systematic education and training for approximately 10 months.

Ethnic Korean Youth in Brazil Can Also Participate… A New Opportunity for Employment in Korea As the Consulate General in São Paulo guides this program, it is expected to attract interest from ethnic Korean youth in Brazil who are seeking new career paths and employment opportunities in South Korea.

Even if second- and third-generation Korean-Brazilians growing up in Brazil wish to find employment in Korea, they may face realistic difficulties such as insufficient Korean language proficiency, professional skills, certifications, and a lack of employment information.

This program differentiates itself from existing short-term training programs by linking language education, vocational training, certification acquisition, and employment support so that these issues can be resolved within a single course.

Simultaneous Korean Language and Vocational Training… Cultivating “Job-Ready Competence” The curriculum places significant emphasis not only on professional skills but also on the Korean language communication skills necessary to live and work in Korea.

Through intensive Korean language education, participants will enhance their communication skills required for daily life as well as actual workplaces. Practical, hands-on vocational training will be conducted concurrently. In particular, specialized education will be provided focusing on fields experiencing growing global interest, such as Korean culinary arts and baking/confectionery, ensuring participants acquire skills they can directly apply in actual work environments.

From Education to National Certification and Employment… A “10-Month Course” The training period is approximately 10 months. After receiving Korean language education and practice-oriented vocational training in areas like Korean cuisine and baking/confectionery, participants will also challenge themselves to obtain relevant national certificates.

The program does not end with receiving education and acquiring certificates. Post-management, such as providing employment information and supporting job-hunting activities, will also be carried out so that certifications and professional skills translate into actual jobs. In other words, the core of this project is establishing a step-by-step support system leading from Korean language → professional skills → national certificates → job hunting → employment → settlement.

Not Simply a Program to “Learn a Skill” The ultimate purpose of the Overseas Koreans Agency in preparing this program is to help ethnic Korean youth go beyond acquiring a single certificate, enabling them to achieve economic independence and stable settlement in Korean society.

For ethnic Korean youth growing up abroad to settle in Korea, they need adaptation in multiple areas including not just employment, but also language, workplace culture, and living environment. Accordingly, the objective is to support participants in learning the Korean language and professional skills together, developing their capabilities, securing stable jobs, and growing into proud members of Korean society.

A Notable Program for the Next Generation of Korean-Brazilians Interest is expected to grow within the Brazilian Korean community, particularly as the Consulate General in São Paulo has provided guidance on the details.

This is because it can serve as a viable career option for young Korean-Brazilians who have been contemplating questions such as “What kind of work should I do if I go to Korea?”, “What certifications should I prepare for?”, or “Can I get a job with my limited Korean proficiency?” even if they have been interested in working in Korea or living in their motherland.

Furthermore, the professional skills acquired in Korean culinary arts and baking/confectionery are also worth noting since they can be utilized not only for employment in Korea but also in food service and related fields upon returning to Brazil. Attention is focused on whether the “Overseas Korean Youth Employment Support Program,” launched for the first time this year, will establish itself as a new opportunity for the next generation of overseas compatriots—including those in Brazil—to go beyond a simple visit to their motherland by learning skills, obtaining certificates, and actively pursuing actual employment.

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