Seocho-gu Cafe and Village Bus Stops Transformed into Youth Galleries

Exhibition Artwork Appreciation

Seocho-gu ‘Youth Gallery Cafe Support Project’ Exhibits Works at 20 Cafes and Village Bus Stops Each This Year

Recruiting 60 Works by Young Artists Until February 3... Operation from March to December for 9 Months

One Cafe and One Village Bus Stop Display Three Works by One Artist in Three 3-Month Periods

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Youth art galleries will be exhibited throughout daily life locations such as cafes and village bus stops in Seocho-gu, providing residents with opportunities to enjoy art.

Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced that it will expand the ‘Youth Gallery Cafe Support Project’ from existing cafes to include exhibitions on village bus stop advertising boards.

Started in 2019 and now in its fifth year, the ‘Seocho Youth Gallery Cafe’ project offers young artists exhibition spaces, residents opportunities to appreciate art in daily life, and cafes with exhibited works attract customers, thereby revitalizing the local economy?a triple-win effect.

Last year, the project attracted significant interest, with 119 artists applying for 60 spots, showing about a 2:1 competition ratio.

Building on this response, this year the district plans to exhibit works not only in cafes but also on advertising boards at 20 village bus stops. The district expects this to expand exhibition spaces for young artists and broaden cultural enjoyment opportunities for residents even on the streets.

To this end, the district is publicly recruiting participating artists and neighborhood cafes for the ‘Youth Gallery Cafe Support Project’ until March 3. Eligible artists are young artists aged 19 to 39 who reside or are active in Seocho-gu, with 60 artists to be selected. Participating cafes must be business establishments in Seocho-gu with a size of 60㎡ or more, totaling 20 locations. Applications can be submitted by downloading the application form from the district office website and emailing it to the person in charge.

Works will be selected next month by a panel of experts, and selected works will be arranged considering the indoor atmosphere for cafes and harmony with the surrounding environment for village bus stops.

The exhibition will run for nine months from March to December, with three works by one artist displayed in cafes and village bus stops in three separate 3-month periods. Notably, this year the judging process has shifted to a portfolio review focused on the artist, allowing for a more diverse range of works to be exhibited.

Going forward, the district will provide selected young artists with an activity fee of 500,000 KRW per person. Additionally, in the second half of the year, a ‘Special Exhibition of Young Artists’ featuring works by artists participating in this year’s Seocho Youth Gallery Cafe project will be held at a local gallery, offering various opportunities to young artists.

Meanwhile, over the past four years, a total of 170 young artists have exhibited 501 works in cafes through the ‘Seocho Youth Gallery Cafe’ project. Among these, 30 works were sold to cafe visitors, generating a total revenue of 14.69 million KRW. All proceeds went to the artists, helping their economic independence.

Last year, Jeong Amu-gae (23, resident of Bangbae-dong), who participated in the Youth Gallery Cafe, said, “The Youth Gallery Cafe is like a blessing for emerging young artists who lack exhibition opportunities. It was great to communicate with customers visiting the cafe about the works, and I felt a sense of fulfillment as an artist.”

Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, “We will continue to support our young artists to realize their dreams in the ‘Cultural and Artistic City Seocho’.”

Gwangjin-gu Supports ‘Language and Certification Exam Fees’ for Youth... Up to Age 39 Starting This Year!

Support for Residents Registered in the Area for More Than One Month, Aged 19 to 39, Up to 100,000 KRW

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) will continue to support youth by covering language and certification exam fees up to 100,000 KRW per person in 2023.

The OPIC (Oral Proficiency Interview ? Computer) English speaking test fee increased from 78,100 KRW to 84,000 KRW starting with the January 3 exam, and fees for TOEIC Speaking, HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi), IELTS, and others also rose last year. The increase in language exam fees, essential for employment qualifications, has increased the financial burden on job-seeking youth.

To alleviate this economic burden and provide practical help for employment, Gwangjin-gu has supported language and certification exam fees necessary for job hunting since 2022. In August last year, after gathering residents’ opinions requesting support for national technical qualification exam fees widely used in the job market, the support was expanded to include certification exams. As a result, a total of 462 youths received exam fee support in 2022.

This year, the district plans to support a total of 450 people. Eligible applicants must be registered residents of Gwangjin-gu for more than one month as of the application date, aged between 19 and 39, and have taken an exam in 2023. The support amount is up to 100,000 KRW per person and covers language exams, about 500 national technical qualification exams specified under the National Technical Qualifications Act, and the Korean History Proficiency Test exam fees.

Applicants can check required documents on the Gwangjin-gu website and submit them by email or in person to the Gwangjin-gu Job and Youth Division between the 1st and 20th of each month by 6 PM.

The district announces selected applicants via text message around the 25th of each month and transfers the support funds to individual accounts at the end of each month. For more details, contact the Gwangjin-gu Job and Youth Division.

Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said, “Supporting youth employment also leads to job creation and promotion. We hope this support will be a practical help to young people taking various exams to prepare for employment.”