Homeless to become hoteliers

Homeless people in Seoul are about to get the chance of becoming hoteliers as one of the best hotels in the nation is offering an opportunity for training and employment.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and Sung Young-mo, CEO of the Westin Chosun Seoul, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Monday at City Hall to provide limited internships for the homeless.

The hotel will help those selected from 54 shelters for the homeless in the city get the training that will make them eligible for employment.

The hotel will select two interns among the homeless who wish to work at hotels and is currently considering a plan to hire them as full-time employees. The city will recommend those who show a strong will to work, among the individuals first recommended by shelters, to the hotel.

The Westin Chosun will provide various programs such as cooking classes — taught by hotel chefs — and flower arranging to assist them in obtaining jobs.

The hotel will also provide rooms with TVs, home appliances and furniture, as well as basic necessities.

It plans to buy products that homeless people attending agricultural schools and farming cooperatives near Seoul and staff will participate in volunteer work at shelters.

“We hope that this MOU can be seen as a source of hope to the homeless who are striving to get back on their feet in tough circumstances,” said Park.

The hotel was established in 1914, and is the oldest hotel in the nation. It has been working with a shelter since 2009 to support the homeless in finding jobs. The MOU expanded the number of shelters receiving its support to all 54.

There have been donations from businesses to shelters in the past, but the MOU is the first of its kind to to provide assistance to the homeless in terms of employment. <The Korea Times/Kim Bo-eun>

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