15% Appointment of 'Youth Committee Members' in Various Songpa-gu Operating Committees

Implementation of 'Songpa-gu Various Committees Youth Member Allocation System'... "Incorporating Youth Voices from Policy Formulation to Execution"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is implementing the ‘Songpa-gu Various Committees Youth Member Allocation System’ to guarantee the practical participation rights of youth in district administration and to reflect the voices of youth in policy formulation and decision-making.

Although youth are the main actors responsible for the future of the Republic of Korea, social public discourse regarding interest in and support for them has been insufficient.

Accordingly, during the 7th local government term, Songpa-gu formed the ‘Songpa Youth Network’ and actively created communication opportunities such as the ‘Youth Grand Debate’ and ‘Youth Online Forum,’ dedicating efforts to systematic youth policy development.

The ‘Songpa-gu Various Committees Youth Member Allocation System’ requires that at least 15% of members in the 106 various policy decision, deliberation, and advisory committees operated by the district be youth.

This is an institutional measure to fully incorporate youth opinions from policy formulation to implementation.

Any youth aged 19 to 39, who is a Songpa resident and voter and can propose constructive alternatives for the community they belong to, can participate as a committee member.

In the future, when filling vacancies in committees operated by each department, youth will be given priority for appointment.

Along with this, the district will promote various youth policy projects to establish the ‘Youth Member Allocation System.’ Through Songpa-gu’s unique ‘priming’ policies such as the Coming-of-Age Start-up Fund, Small and Medium Enterprise Youth Employment Internship Program, and Songpa ICT Youth Startup Support Center, it plans to attract more youth interest and participation.

Youth aged 19 to 39 who wish to participate in the Youth Member Allocation System can apply anytime via email (songpa1939@gmail.com) or through the website.

Detailed information is available from the Job Policy Officer at Songpa-gu Office.

Mayor Park Seong-su of Songpa-gu stated, “To create a social and economic environment where youth can grow, institutional support must accompany the efforts of youth themselves,” adding, “Through the Youth Member Allocation System, we will develop policies that reflect the voices of youth and do our best to lead to the development of the local community.”