Why Did Mapo-gu Head to Gyeongui Line Book Street to Find Youth?

District, Youth Counseling Welfare Center, and Police Station Jointly Monitor and Operate Counseling Booths for Youth Customized Counseling
Recently, Youth Frequenting Gyeongui Line Book Street Pursuing 'Menhera Culture'... Discovering and Counseling At-Risk Youth
District Mayor Park Gang-su: "Future Power, Community-wide Attention Needed for Proper Growth of Youth"

Near Exit 6 of Hongdae Ipgu Station, the Gyeongui Line Book Street has recently become known as a popular spot for teenagers called the so-called ‘Gyeongui Line Kids,’ who pursue Japan’s ‘Menhera culture’ (a Japanese neologism referring to people who appear to have poor mental health), sparking public attention.

In response, Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Gang-su) sent official cooperation letters in June to the Park Operations Division of the Seoul Western Park and Leisure Center, which manages the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, and the Mapo Police Station to ensure a safe street environment and protect youth. The district also requested the Mapo-gu Volunteer Crime Prevention Unit to strengthen patrols for youth protection and guidance.

Additionally, from July to October, the district jointly monitored the area about ten times with the Youth Counseling Welfare Center and Mapo Police Station, operating counseling booths.

At the booths, events such as quizzes related to counseling with gift giveaways and bead bracelet-making activities were held to encourage teenagers to participate without burden and continue conversations.

Along with this, banners and signboards promoting youth mental health guardians were installed at Exit 6 of Hongdae Ipgu Station and the Gyeongui Line Book Street to publicize counseling institutions and attract teenagers’ interest.

A district official stated, “Not all teenagers gathered in the area engage in deviant behavior or face difficulties, but some may need help due to psychological or real-life issues,” adding, “We aim to encourage voluntary and continuous counseling participation among youth to support healthy growth and prevent their exposure to crime,” explaining the background of operating the booths.

Meanwhile, on the 16th, after the college entrance exam, Mapo-gu Youth Counseling Welfare Center, Mapo-gu Youth Support Center (Kkumdeulim), the Teen Women’s Rights Center, and Mapo Police Station jointly operated a ‘Youth Street Counseling Booth’ at Exit 6 of Hongdae Ipgu Station.

Furthermore, Mapo-gu will form a joint inspection team with Mapo Police Station and the Mapo-gu Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Group to conduct joint inspections and campaigns on youth harmful environments until the 30th.

The main inspection items include ▲ checking for the sale of harmful substances such as alcohol and cigarettes to youth and whether prohibition signs are posted ▲ violations of youth entry and employment bans at harmful establishments ▲ condoning or aiding acts such as cohabitation of opposite-sex youth.

Violating establishments will be subject to administrative actions such as correction orders and fines according to relevant laws, and continuous monitoring will be conducted to improve environments harmful to youth.

District Mayor Park Gang-su emphasized, “The entire local community must watch over and work together with warm interest so that youth, the future driving force, can grow properly,” adding, “Mapo-gu will continue to make every effort to closely inspect and improve every corner of the district to prevent harmful environmental factors for youth from occurring.”