[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province, was selected for this year's Gyeongnam Youth Center Creation Project and secured 250 million won in provincial funding.
This project aims to create youth spaces by utilizing idle local spaces. Geochang-gun was the only area selected in the province and will carry out the project entirely with provincial funds.
Along with the establishment of a youth policy department last year, Geochang-gun reflected youth input in the space planning. It is said that the solid preparation and well-organized plan through collaboration led to the successful selection in the competition.
The space to be developed as the Youth Center is the livestock cooperative feed warehouse located between Gyeongnam Provincial Geochang College and Arim High School. Since 2020, after local discussions, the county purchased the site and completed basic remodeling with the purpose of creating a youth cultural sharing space.
Through this project selection, an outdoor performance hall, terrace, childcare space, and attic space linked with Gyeongnam Provincial Geochang College will be provided. Plans include installing shadow lighting to brighten the darkness at night and beautifully illuminate the surroundings, as well as configuring a cafeteria and shared office.
County Governor Goo In-mo said, “Being selected for the Youth Center project, I expect it to be reborn as a more complete youth space,” and added, “Let’s create together ‘Geochang where youth are happy, Geochang that is happy because of youth’ based on the Youth Center.”
The Geochang Youth Center is planned to operate with the concept of a hideout where youth can freely gather, communicate, and engage in activities; an experimental space presenting a future-oriented youth job model; a resting place where they can play, relax, and dream; an exhibition and performance venue for local youth cultural artists; and a communication space for local youth and residents.
The county has enacted a basic youth ordinance, formed a youth network, held youth forums, and is promoting various projects in five areas: jobs, housing, education, welfare culture, and participation rights.
This year, under the vision of “Youth-led Hope UP Youth Policy Promotion,” the focus is on infrastructure development, aiming to create a unique Geochang youth policy model where people, spaces, and programs work in harmony.
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