In a rapidly aging society, Korea’s capital is deploying financial incentives to redefine what it means to grow old in the workforce. Municipal officials on Monday opened applications for businesses to participate in the upcoming 2026 Senior Job Fair, offering companies a completely subsidized recruitment platform — alongside direct cash subsidies of up to 5.5 million won ($4,000) per senior hire through its ongoing Senior Internship Program — to actively incentivize local firms to adopt age-inclusive hiring practices. The initiative comes as Korea faces an unprecedented demographic transition, boasting one of the world's fastest-aging populations alongside historically low birthrates. To address shrinking labor pools and keep healthy older adults economically active, municipal policies have pivoted sharply toward creating dignified, sustainable second careers for seniors. The cash subsidies, which cover wage support and employment retention bonuses, apply to Seoul-based businesses with five or more full-time employees that hire workers aged 60 or older, with retroactive coverage