Focused Promotion of 30 Projects in 5 Areas: Jobs, Economy & Housing, Education, Welfare & Culture, and Participation
Expanding Policy Scope from Job Support to Comprehensive Support System for Youth Life
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced that it will invest 5.5 billion KRW this year to implement 30 youth policy projects across five major areas including economy, housing, and welfare, aiming to guarantee ‘opportunities · space · participation’ for 110,000 young residents, who make up 25% of the local population and are the future leaders of Yangcheon.
In particular, while existing youth policies mainly focused on job support, the newly established comprehensive youth policy plan has significantly expanded its scope by creating a support system covering all aspects of young people’s lives, including housing, culture, and welfare, to help youth settle stably in the local community.
The ‘economic and housing projects’ aimed at alleviating young people’s housing cost burdens and establishing a foundation for independence include six projects supported with over 2.5 billion KRW: the ‘Youth Tomorrow Savings Account’ for asset formation of low-income working youth; the ‘Hope Double Youth Account’ to help working youth accumulate lump sums; the ‘Youth Cooperative-type Customized Community Housing Support Project’ providing stable housing spaces; the ‘Temporary Youth Monthly Rent Special Support Project’ to reduce housing cost burdens; and support for the Youth Gender Equality Fund.
The ‘education projects’ for youth future planning include a ‘Customized Youth Employment Education Program’ improved and operated based on prior demand surveys reflecting youth needs and interests. Four projects, including the ‘Youth Academy’ for discovering youth policies and the ‘Yangcheon-gu Scholarship Support’ to ease tuition expenses, have been allocated 180 million KRW.
In the ‘welfare and culture’ sector aimed at enhancing youth convenience, 1.28 billion KRW will be invested in six projects. These include operating the ‘Seoul Youth Center Yangcheon,’ a frontline base for youth capacity development and cultural life support as well as a local youth policy communication channel, and the ‘Sinjeong Comprehensive Social Welfare Center Youth Space,’ a venue for youth community activities.
Additionally, the ‘Youth Mental Health Voucher Support Project’ providing financial support for youth psychological counseling services, the ‘Youth Independence Preparation Support Project’ for stable social settlement, and the ‘Coming-of-Age Day Celebration Card Sending Project’ will continue to be implemented.
Furthermore, through the new ‘Yangcheon-gu Cultural Promotion Fund Support Project,’ the district plans to encourage creative activities of young artists.
In the ‘job sector,’ which is the top concern for youth, the ‘Youth National Qualification Exam Fee Support Project’ will be expanded to cover all national certifications, providing up to 100,000 KRW per unemployed youth for qualification exam fees.
Reflecting high interest in media content production such as photography and video, the district will operate the ‘Digital Creator Center’ and the ‘Online Marketing Support Project,’ which integrates youth’s excellent digital capabilities into revitalizing the local economy.
Moreover, 1.5 billion KRW will be invested in 11 projects including providing ‘one-stop startup support services’ centered on the Startup Support Center; operating the ‘Yangcheon Youth Job Cafe,’ which offers a full package from special lectures to counseling and space rental; the ‘Youth Store Development Project’ supporting part of rent and remodeling costs; and job fairs.
In the ‘participation and rights’ sector aimed at increasing youth participation in district administration, 50 million KRW will be invested in three projects: the ‘Youth Policy Debate (Public Forum)’ where youth directly propose policies from their perspective; the ‘Youth Policy Committee’ which deliberates on key youth policy matters; and the ‘Youth Policy Manager’ to promote youth participation, all striving to establish youth-led, experience-based policies.
Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “We will continue to discover and implement customized support measures that allow our youth to fully realize their infinite potential and build ‘Yangcheon, a city of opportunities that opens possibilities.’”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
