Seocho-gu Supports Independent Youth with Psychological Care and Employment Assistance

Jeon Seong-su, Seocho District Mayor

Seocho-gu Launches ‘Seocho-style Hope Ladder Project’ Enhancing Psychological and Emotional Support Alongside Top-Level Economic Assistance Nationwide

‘Always on My Side Mentoring’ Program Introduces ‘Psychological Counseling for High-Risk Youth Preparing for Independence’ Service

District Provides Support up to Age 29, Five Years After Protection Ends?Nation’s First; Expands Education Expense Support up to 4 Million KRW, Links with Local Employment and Startup Programs to Aid Social Settlement

Seocho-gu is initiating robust and detailed support for youth aged 18 and over preparing for independence from child care facilities (youth aging out of protection). Building on the nation’s highest level of economic assistance, the focus is on carefully monitoring mental health and facilitating job training and employment/startup connections.

Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced that it will implement the ‘2023 Seocho-style Hope Ladder Project’ starting this month, incorporating these measures.

The main components of this project include ▲strengthening psychological and emotional support ▲customized independence consulting such as financial and daily life assistance ▲job training and employment linkage support ▲enhanced economic assistance.

First, the district will reinforce psychological and emotional support to help youth preparing for independence navigate living on their own. This follows a survey conducted last October with 27 youth preparing for independence, which revealed that 37% (10 individuals) reported experiencing feelings of depression. Additionally, the absence of emotional support from parents or guardians highlighted the need for comprehensive information provision covering all aspects of daily life.

In response, Seocho-gu will operate the ‘Always on My Side Mentoring Support’ program by recruiting mentors including experts to provide mentoring to youth preparing for independence. Mentor and mentee participants will be recruited this month, with full-scale operations beginning next month.

The program is divided into ‘1:1 Mentoring’ and ‘Integrated Mentoring’ support. The ‘1:1 Mentoring’ fosters strong bonds through regular meetings between mentors and mentees, creating a reliable support system akin to family. The ‘Integrated Mentoring’ connects youth with various professional mentors in areas such as housing, legal matters, and finance to provide comprehensive services. At the end of the year, a ‘Networking Day’ will be held to promote camaraderie among mentors and facilitate information exchange.

Moreover, the district is enhancing mental health care services for youth facing emotional difficulties. High-risk individuals will receive personalized psychological counseling and treatment through hospital partnerships. General participants will benefit from psychological problem-solving programs, including self-identity education, in collaboration with specialized independence support consulting firms.

Additionally, Seocho-gu is the first in the nation to extend protective safety net services, including consulting, up to age 29. This addresses the blind spots where youth who aged out of protection at 18 remain unprepared for independence even after five years. To support these young adults taking their first steps into society, the district offers ‘1:1 Customized Consulting’ linked with professional consultants to assist with financial management and overall daily life challenges.

Furthermore, youth preparing for independence will receive job training and employment linkage support suited to the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. The district’s youth employment projects such as ‘Seocho AI College’ and ‘Fourth Industrial Software’ will be connected. Education expense support (tuition fees) of up to 4 million KRW will also be expanded from the previous eligibility of university students residing in Seocho-gu for over a year and job seekers to include those preparing for job changes, startups, and certification acquisition.

Finally, Seocho-gu will continue its nationwide top-level economic support for the successful independence of youth preparing for self-reliance. Since 2021, it has been the first to extend the protection age from 18 to 24 through ordinance revision. In addition, separate from government and Seoul city subsidies since 2020, the district provides up to 25 million KRW in five-year independence settlement funds and up to 18 million KRW in living allowance. It also supports university tuition up to 12 million KRW and academy fees up to 4 million KRW.

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, stated, “Seocho-gu will be a strong support system so that youth preparing for independence can confidently become healthy members of society. We will do our best to help these youth enter society through differentiated support unique to Seocho.”