By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will put priority on creating more jobs in the capital this year. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-joon issued a special instruction to help boost the economy and create jobs, Wednesday.
With the aim to create a total of 195,000 jobs, the city government opened ``Job Plus Center'' on the fifth floor of Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul. More than 120 counselors will help jobseekers get jobs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Online or phone counseling is also available at job.seoul.go.kr or 1588-9142.
To revitalize the economy at the earliest possible time, the city will start 90 percent of this year's public works projects during the first half of the year, by shortening proceedings for the selection of contractors and other works.
The city allotted 1.4 trillion won ($1 billion) to support small and medium-sized companies, a 24 percent rise from last year, and will give out 70 percent of the budget during the first six months of the year.