The Nation's First Youth Policy Forum Held at Gyeongnam Provincial Library

Governor Park Wansu: "Youth Mental Health Is a National Task"

The nation's first Youth Policy Forum was held on the 20th at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government's main conference hall.

Gyeongnam Province announced that it was the first among cities and provinces nationwide to hold the forum to establish a cooperative system in the youth policy field and to promote the healthy growth of young people.

According to the province, this policy forum was organized as a follow-up measure to the memorandum of understanding signed last November between Gyeongnam Province and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, aiming to increase youth participation activities and share ways to eliminate welfare blind spots for at-risk youth.

At the Gyeongnam Province Youth Policy Forum, Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (second from the left), Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family (fifth from the left), and Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education (sixth from the left), are taking a commemorative photo with the youth. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

The forum was co-hosted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Gyeongnam Province, and the Provincial Office of Education, with about 150 attendees including Minister Kim Hyun-sook of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Governor Park Wan-su, Superintendent of Education Park Jong-hoon, youth leaders, and young people from the province.

A keynote presentation was delivered on the theme of "Cooperation Measures Inside and Outside Schools for Youth Mental Health."

Excellent cases related to youth activity support, welfare and protection, and collaboration among local governments, schools, and community resources were presented.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is delivering a greeting to youth and other attendees at the Youth Policy Forum.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

In the comprehensive discussion, under the theme "Strengthening Linkage and Cooperation between Schools and Community Youth-related Organizations," panelists and participants jointly proposed support systems and development directions for youth and exchanged related opinions.

On that day, Minister Kim announced Promise No. 1 for youth mental health, including ▲ visiting online and offline counseling ▲ strengthening psychological and emotional support counseling linking nationwide Youth Counseling and Welfare Centers with schools ▲ placement of clinical psychologists at city and provincial Youth Counseling and Welfare Centers ▲ operation of specialized intensive psychological clinics for high-risk youth ▲ stage-specific customized support for high-risk youth ▲ and preparation of a mid- to long-term roadmap to prevent high-risk situations among reclusive youth.

Governor Park said, "Making the minds of young people, who will play a central role in our society as future leaders, healthy is a national task that must be addressed," adding, "Gyeongnam Province will collect the policies and opinions presented through this policy forum and strive to promote the healthy growth of youth and create a happy Gyeongnam."