Uiryeong-gun's Innovative 'MZ Generation Attraction' Strategy for a Youth-Friendly City

This Year’s Support for 'Youth Couple Wedding Photography' Expenses

Gyeongnam Uiryeong-gun is struggling to transform into a youth-friendly city.
[Image source=Uiryeong-gun Office]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Wook] Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam, is winning the hearts of young people with innovative policies that attract the MZ generation.

The county has packed its youth support measures with unmatched projects, including support for obtaining driver's licenses, moving expenses, half-price rental housing repair costs, and used car purchase subsidies.

In 2022, Uiryeong-gun successfully completed the Uiryeong Youth Hope Project "Youth Policy Package," which created conditions for young people to settle stably and provided practical help in all aspects of life.

The "Youth Policy Package" actively reflected the opinions of local youth and youth organizations to create a Uiryeong where young people can achieve their dreams and be happy, promoting eight projects in six areas: jobs, housing, culture, mobility rights, volunteer activities, and youth influx.

The projects carried out throughout the year included youth small business startup support, youth half-price rental housing repair cost support, youth moving expense support, youth club activity support, driver's license acquisition cost support, youth used car purchase cost support, youth volunteer activity support, and the Youth Uiryeong One-Month Living Project.

Among these, the youth used car purchase cost support and driver's license acquisition cost support projects, which were attempted for the first time nationwide as youth policies, attracted attention.

In particular, the highly popular driver's license acquisition cost support project provided up to 500,000 KRW per person for expenses necessary to obtain a driver's license, such as academy tuition and verification fees, benefiting about 70 people.

The small business startup support project had 11 applicants last year, with 3 selected, each receiving 25 million KRW in startup support funds. Currently, Uiryeong-gun has seen the birth of five youth small business stores. Most of these are items tried for the first time in Uiryeong-gun, such as Yegyeon Kindergarten, a side dish specialty store, and a handmade cake specialty shop, and the local community is applauding the youth's spirit of challenge.

The "Youth Uiryeong One-Month Living Project," which provides free accommodation, activity expenses, and vehicles to young people for tours of major tourist sites, rural labor assistance, and visits to local schools and companies, has increased positive sentiment toward Uiryeong as young people from cities across the country participate.

This year, distinctive youth projects have also been prepared. The "Youth Couple Wedding Photography Support Project" will provide 300,000 KRW support for studio wedding photography for young couples planning to marry. Uiryeong-gun secured the project budget in the first supplementary budget this year to implement the project starting mid-next year.

County Governor Oh Tae-wan said, "Uiryeong is a land of opportunity for young people. We will make sure Uiryeong's youth do not leave, and urban youth come to Uiryeong," adding, "We will create a better Uiryeong where young people can take root with practical support measures."