The job does not have any age limit, which makes it very popular among those in their 40s to 60s looking for a second career. (image: Korea Forestry Promotion Institute)
GUMI, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Forest coordinator is becoming an attractive career for many in South Korea.
“You can get paid as much as 1.7 million won (US$1,510) to 2.4 million won (US$2,132),” said Shim Jae-heon, head of planning at the Gyeongsangbuk-Do Environment Training Institute.
“We are seeing high participation in our program to acquire certification for forest coordinators.”
Once applicants acquire a certificate approved by the Korea Forest Service, they can work as forest coordinators in local arboretums, recreation forests, after-school programs, and other urban or educational agencies.
In Gumi, they can work at Geumosan, Gumi Eco-land, and other forest lodges.
In North Gyeongsang Province, the Gyeongsangbuk-Do Environment Training Institute, the Forest Interpreters’ Association of Korea (Pohang and Gyeongju City), and the Lifelong Education Center at Yeungnam University offer forest coordinator certification programs.
The Gyeongsangbuk-Do Environment Training Institute produces 40 forest coordinators every year.
This year’s application period is between February 18 and 28 to select 40 candidates on a first come, first served basis. Prospective applicants can register at the institute’s website (www.igreen.or.kr).
Every year, the number of applicants has exceeded the maximum quota on the day the application period opens. Each student will pay tuition of 1.2 million won ($1,066) for classes, practice sessions, equipment, and food.
In the training program, students will learn policies concerning mountains and forests, developing and managing forest-related programs, and basic knowledge about plants and animals.
This year, the program will run between March 15 and July 26 every Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The job does not have any age limit, which makes it very popular among those in their 40s to 60s looking for a second career.
Among them, more than 60 percent are known to be homemakers and women with interrupted careers.
“The forest coordinator program is a wonderful opportunity for our citizens to acquire a national certificate, and get a job through training,” said Shim Hak-bo, head of the Gyeongsangbuk-Do Environment Training Institute.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
