Seoul Youth Center Mapo Orang Launches Full-Scale One-Stop Youth Counseling Service

Providing Counseling and Activity Support Services, Free for All Youth... Supporting Community Activities to Share Mental and Daily Life Concerns in Youth-Only Spaces

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) has launched full-scale program operations from April at the ‘Seoul Youth Center Mapo Orang,’ a one-stop support facility created to assist youth with counseling on their concerns and forming social networks.

‘Seoul Youth Center Mapo Orang’ is a youth-exclusive space opened in January near Hapjeong Station to provide policy support for youth in the Mapo area (Mapo, Gangseo, Yangcheon). The facility includes a lounge, counseling rooms, shared kitchen, seminar rooms, and a single-person broadcasting room.

The center aims to assess youth needs through comprehensive counseling support and connect them with appropriate policy assistance. Youth can engage in community activities here to share concerns about their mental and daily life issues.

Youth requiring counseling on employment, entrepreneurship, career, health, housing, mental health, and other life aspects can apply through the Mapo Orang website and receive counseling at their preferred time. They can meet one-on-one with youth support managers via face-to-face, phone, or text communication channels.

Programs operated by Mapo Orang alongside counseling support include ‘Two City Talk,’ a weekly Tuesday 2 PM meeting on various activity topics; ‘Mind Together,’ which explores emotions through art and reading; and ‘Life Together,’ where participants share information and discuss concerns related to finance, housing, health, and daily life.

Additionally, new monthly education sessions, project activities, neighborhood meeting support, and assistance for single-person households and network formation are available. Details on various participation programs and new projects can be found on the Mapo Orang website, Instagram, blog, and KakaoTalk channel.

Any youth wishing to use the Mapo Orang space or participate in programs can do so freely, with all counseling and programs provided at no cost.

Currently, due to strengthened social distancing measures, space usage requires prior reservation or on-site registration. Facilities for non-face-to-face interviews are also provided.

For further inquiries about Seoul Youth Center Mapo Orang, contact by phone or email (mapo@orang.kr) for assistance.

Mayor Yudonggyun of Mapo-gu stated, “Through Mapo Orang, we will closely observe the difficulties youth face during the challenging COVID-19 period. Furthermore, we will implement various support measures so that youth can find vitality in daily life by experiencing overcoming life together and planning their future, not alone.”