Kang Eun-mi, the Green Justice Party candidate for Seo-gu (Eul), Gwangju Metropolitan City, held a meeting with the Gwangju Youth Policy Coalition to ensure the rights of youth.
The meeting held on the 21st was attended by Lee Woon-gi, Executive Director of the Gwangju Youth Policy Coalition; Kang Byung-gil, President of the Gwangju Youth Training Facilities Association; Lee Nam-ok, President of the Gwangju Alternative Education Council; Shim Hye-yeon, Director of the Gwangsan-gu Youth Sexual Culture Center; Kim Hyo-jong, President of the Gwangju Youth Shelter Association; and Moon Soo-young, President of the Gwangju Youth Leaders Association.
On that day, they discussed ▲ the establishment of a ministerial-level deliberation and decision-making body and a dedicated department aiming for an integrated approach to youth policy ▲ guaranteeing youth political participation rights such as granting the right to vote in superintendent elections and aligning the ages for voting and candidacy ▲ expanding the budget for youth activities ▲ securing health rights such as providing breakfast for youth.
Candidate Kang explained, “Although the overall national budget is increasing, the budget for youth is not increasing proportionally,” adding, “I have been continuously considering, starting from city council members, whether youth are sufficiently recognized as citizens, and whether their basic rights such as the right to enjoy culture, the right to exercise, the right to play, and the right to rest are being acknowledged.”
During her tenure as a city council member, Kang enacted the ‘Support Ordinance for Out-of-School Youth,’ the first of its kind nationwide, which not only spread across the country but also laid the foundation for related legislation.
As a member of the National Assembly, she has worked on policies that allow protective children to be cared for in environments similar to their original families and has identified and filled policy gaps occurring in the field. She has also continued legislative activities for young adults preparing for independence.
Candidate Kang emphasized, “Youth are being reduced to mere studying machines, and their rights are not being recognized,” stating, “The rights they should enjoy must be properly and sufficiently provided for youth to truly grow up well.”
She added, “Youth who have fully enjoyed their rights and grown up will become good citizens and our future in the Republic of Korea, and this is precisely an investment,” and said, “I will do my best to reflect the proposed policies in my pledges and explore ways to strengthen the state’s responsibility.”
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