"Transforming Lives of People with Disabilities Through Stable Jobs"... This Place Aims for 1,500 Permanent Employees

At the Goodwill Store Miral Woori Financial Branch
Full Benefits and Retirement Pension Provided, Retirement Guaranteed at 60
Stable Workplace Environment Boosts Productivity, Brings Positive Change to Families and Workplaces
Woori Financia

"I'm so happy to be able to have a stable job."

On the 13th at the Goodwill Store Milal Woori Financial Branch in Jung-gu, Seoul, Shin Yoonjae, an employee (29), responded this way when asked about his experience working so far. Shin, who has a level 3 intellectual disability, has been working at this branch for about a year and a half since January of last year.

On the 13th, Shin Yoonjae, an employee, was arranging products at the Goodwill Store Milal Woori Financial Branch in Jung-gu, Seoul. Woori Bank

Goodwill Store is a place where unused items are donated and sold. The profits are used to provide jobs for people with disabilities, and through work, help transform their lives. At the Goodwill Store Milal Woori Financial Branch, four employees with disabilities, including Shin, are currently working. Each day, they assist between 150 and 200 customers on slow days, and up to 300 to 350 customers on busy days.

Before joining this store, Shin held various part-time positions such as logistics loading and unloading, hall serving, cash transport, and department store parking guidance, all of which mainly involved wages based on working hours. The working conditions were poor, and he was not even paid the minimum wage, making it difficult to continue these jobs for a long time. He often found himself quitting shortly after starting.

After being introduced by a job center for people with disabilities and completing the interview and probation period, Shin joined the Goodwill Store. He now receives a monthly salary based on the minimum wage, along with coverage for the four major insurances and a retirement pension. A guaranteed retirement age of 60 is also provided. He said, "It's great to escape an unstable environment and earn a stable income in a steady work environment," adding, "I mainly take care of accepting donated goods, handling loading and unloading, and arranging products, but arranging products is what I enjoy the most."

After Shin started working at Goodwill Store, not only did he experience positive changes, but those around him did as well. His mother, Ms. Ko (56), said, "His communication ability is at the elementary school level, so I used to always worry and check where he was, but after he joined Goodwill Store, he developed routines like regular attendance, so I feel more at ease." She laughed, adding, "Before, he would always say 'Mom, do this for me,' but these days, he often says 'I can do it myself' or 'I'll do it.'" Having a stable job has also increased his efficiency at work. Jung Byunghan, team leader at Goodwill Store Milal Woori Financial Branch, emphasized, "Shin makes suggestions for improving store display and sales, and shows a proactive attitude in working alongside non-disabled colleagues. He is a great asset as the person responsible for store operations."

As part of its inclusive finance initiative, Woori Financial Group has been developing the Goodwill Store establishment project since 2023. The goal is to invest 30 billion won over 10 years to open 100 stores nationwide and create 1,500 permanent jobs for people with disabilities. As of this month, there are a total of 51 stores nationwide and about 530 employees with disabilities. Woori Financial Group supports store construction and employee wages during the first year of operation. The Milal Woori Financial Branch is located in the basement of the Woori Bank headquarters. In December of last year, the 'Goodwill Branch' opened at Woori Bank's Yeoju Branch. This initiative reduced a bank branch that was slated for closure, and the remaining space was used to introduce a Goodwill Store in a shop-in-shop format.

Soon, Shin plans to take his mother out to a family restaurant. He would like to buy her a nice meal with the money he has earned. He said, "I want to express my gratitude to Goodwill Store for hiring me. At the interview, I said I would do my best, and I will continue to work hard." His mother, Ko, said, "My hope is that my son continues to be diligent and kind in carrying out his duties. I also wish for more jobs like this to be created and for the hiring of people with disabilities to continue in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.