"Listening to Youth Opinions and Reflecting Them in Policies"... Yongsan-gu Increasing Youth Communication

Youth committee members of the Youth Policy Network in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu (center front row), are taking a commemorative photo after a communication meeting on the 25th. (Photo by Yongsan-gu Office)

“Is there a space for youth in the Yongsan International Business District?”

“Are there any policies unique to Yongsan to prevent drug abuse?”

Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Mayor Park Hee-young) announced on the 28th that it will actively reflect the opinions of young people by sharing their interests and activities related to Yongsan. Mayor Park Hee-young made this statement while communicating with young people at the ‘Youth Policy Network Communication Meeting with the Mayor’ held on the afternoon of the 25th at Yongsan Youth Jium (17 Seobinggo-ro).

On that day, Mayor Park had a conversation with 12 youth committee members, including the operating members of the Yongsan Youth Policy Network. The youth committee members prepared keywords in advance such as drug abuse, seniors, stress, Yongsan International Business District, gentrification, and youth, and listened to the mayor’s responses.

Mayor Park explained that parts like the Yongsan International Business District, which cannot be promoted solely by Yongsan-gu, will be closely coordinated with related organizations. He also communicated actively with the youth committee members by sharing not only Yongsan-gu’s youth support policies and vision but also personal aspects such as stress relief methods, important values in life, and growth experiences.

Yongsan-gu plans to actively incorporate the opinions of young people into youth policies after review by the relevant departments. The youth certification exam fee support policy implemented this year also originated from a proposal by the Yongsan-gu Youth Policy Network last year.

Mayor Park said, “I understand that today’s youth have more complex and subtle anxieties than the older generation did when they were young,” and added, “We will regularly hold communication meetings to directly listen to and communicate with young people and create a youth-friendly district administration.”

The currently active 3rd Yongsan-gu Youth Policy Network began its activities after reorganization in February. In March, basic education was conducted in four divisions?jobs, culture and arts, welfare, and systems and promotion?to discover and propose agendas. By June of this year, after advanced education and mentoring, each division plans to submit policy proposals to the district office.