Youth-Organized Environmental Expo... 'Youth Expo' Held from 27th to 29th

Held at Daejeon Convention Center from 27th to 29th... Conducted Non-Face-to-Face
Possible to Create Avatars and Explore the Expo in the Metaverse
100 Youth Special Lectures, Mentor Lectures, and Breaking Dance Competition Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will hold the "Korea Youth Expo" in Daejeon from the 27th to the 29th in celebration of Youth Month.

This expo, themed "Green Expo Drawn by Youth," will be co-hosted with Daejeon Metropolitan City at the Daejeon Convention Center (DCC), with participation from four ministries and 134 youth organizations and institutions. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the event will be held online.

The opening ceremony will be followed by an awards ceremony honoring contributors to youth development and protection. The expo offers various lectures and experiential programs focused on youth participation and the environment. Visitors can explore the event through a 3D exhibition hall and an extended virtual world (hereinafter Metaverse).

Youth-led lectures titled "100 Youth Special Lectures" and mentor lectures will also be held. In the 100 Youth Special Lectures, young people will freely present on topics of their choice in about seven minutes, and seven outstanding speakers will receive awards such as the Minister’s Award.

Mentor lectures will feature Dr. Kim Sang-wook, a physicist from KAIST; broadcaster Tyler Rasch; COVID-19 alert app developer Choi Joo-won; carbon neutrality expert and research director at the Green Transition Institute Park Byung-sang; and Baek Se-hee, author of "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki," who will speak on themes including career paths, science, environment, arts, and psychology.

A special environmental program wishing for the successful hosting of the "2021 P4G Seoul Summit," held immediately after the Youth Expo, will also be conducted. P4G is a global initiative promoting private sector cooperation in five key green economy sectors (water, energy, circular economy, cities, and food). Along with information about the P4G summit, the program will introduce government policies and roles in climate change response and sustainable development. A pre-event "plogging" campaign, where participants pick up trash while running, will also take place.

On the 22nd, a live video of the youth forum on climate change, "Youth’s Voice Festa for P4G," will be exhibited (held on 5.22), and 25 environmental love experiential activity contents will be provided, including making eco-friendly products using recycled materials by youth participants to practice carbon neutrality.

Alongside the 3D exhibition hall, an interactive virtual space exhibition called "Metaverse," created in collaboration with Naver Zepeto, will be showcased. Expo participants can create their own avatars and explore various contents in a realistic expo hall within Zepeto.

Youth participation contests will also be held. Through the Youth Club Competition, Youth Expo Logo Song Contest, and Environmental Love 7-Panel Webtoon Contest, visitors can enjoy various works created by youth, including performances, songs, and webtoons. A youth breakdance competition, officially adopted as a sport for the 2024 Paris Olympics, will also take place. Outstanding works selected through mobile and expo website voting will be awarded prizes such as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Award.

A pre-celebration performance featuring a "Drone Light Show" with 300 drones will be held, along with a "Virtual Tour of Daejeon with Kkumdori," introducing major landmarks and tourist spots in Daejeon, and a youth film festival screening movies produced by Daejeon youth.

Jeong Young-ae, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated, "This expo is a valuable opportunity to directly experience and realize the precious values of participation and environment. Along with supporting the successful hosting of the P4G Summit, I hope that youth will take the lead in establishing Korea as a nation that leads environmental issues."