Gyeonggi Province operates the ‘Youth Hotline 1388’ 24 hours a day during the Chuseok holiday to support the discovery, rescue, counseling, and protection of at-risk youth.
Youth Hotline 1388 is a service that provides professional counseling 24/7, 365 days a year, covering everything from everyday concerns of youth to crisis situations such as school dropout, internet and smartphone addiction, and running away from home.
In particular, if help is requested in cases of running away or emergencies, rapid intervention and rescue are possible, and protection is provided by linking with youth shelters when necessary.
For high-risk youth at risk of suicide or self-harm, in-depth counseling and on-site support are provided through the outreach counseling support program called ‘Youth Companion,’ and customized support in welfare, medical care, and legal services is connected if needed.
Youth Hotline 1388 can be reached via mobile phone at 031-1388, landline without area code at 1388, as well as through various online channels such as cyber1388.kr, KakaoTalk, and Facebook. Counseling is also available for parents concerned about their youth children. Many parents who have received counseling express gratitude, saying that through 1388 they were able to view and resolve conflicts with their children from various perspectives.
Gang Yu-im, Director of the Gyeonggi Youth Counseling and Welfare Center, stated, "Every year during the Chuseok holiday, we provide over 250 youth counseling sessions through Youth Hotline 1388," adding, "We plan to offer various counseling services during this holiday as well to ensure that youth are safely protected."
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