"Exploring Solutions to Address Blind Spots in Gwangju Youth Policy"

Sim Chang-wook, Gwangju City Council Member, 'Gwangju Youth Policy Forum'

Sim Chang-wook, a member of the Gwangju City Council, held a policy forum titled "2024 Gwangju Youth Policy Forum" on the 1st at the City Council Budget and Accounts Special Committee Room to seek solutions for addressing blind spots in Gwangju's youth policies.
[Photo by Gwangju City Council]

Shim Chang-wook, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council (Buk-gu 5), held a policy forum titled “2024 Gwangju Youth Policy Forum to Explore Solutions for the Blind Spots in Gwangju Youth Policy” on the 1st at the Budget and Accounts Special Committee Room on the 5th floor of the City Council.

The forum was organized to seek improvements and development directions for vulnerable youth groups and policy blind spots in the Gwangju area, including youth preparing for independence and youth caring for family members. Council member Shim Chang-wook served as the moderator, with Park Joo-hee, Secretary General of the Youth Foundation, and Koo Moon-jung, Director of the Gwangju Youth Center, delivering presentations. Also participating as discussants were Professor Bae Eun-kyung of Honam University, Seo Im-seok, Gwangju City Council member (Nam-gu 1), Lee Seung-yoon, Chairperson of the Gwangju Youth Committee, Jang Hee-jae, a member of the Gwangju Youth Committee, and Kwon Yoon-sook, Director of the Gwangju Youth Policy Division.

Secretary General Park Joo-hee, in her presentation titled “Current Status of Policies for Vulnerable Youth and Improvement Plans for Support Systems,” explained △ the significance of supporting vulnerable youth △ the current status of support by vulnerability type △ and proposals for the support system for vulnerable youth.

Director Koo Moon-jung presented on the topic “Development Directions and Proposals to Resolve Blind Spots in Youth Policy,” covering △ the lives of youth who are not ‘well’ △ efforts by the Gwangju Youth Center to resolve policy blind spots △ and proposals to address these blind spots.

Discussant Professor Bae Eun-kyung stated, “The core of supporting vulnerable youth is to prevent and assist their isolation and seclusion,” adding, “Organic cooperation between the Gwangju Youth Center and support organizations, along with a regional future vision, must connect with the youth.”

Council member Seo Im-seok said, “Youth caring for family members spend an average of 4 to 7 hours a day on caregiving and live with an uncertain future,” and suggested, “A system for identifying and supporting these youth and establishing policy feedback mechanisms should be developed to provide practical and effective support.”

Youth committee member Jang Hee-jae argued, “Youth in vulnerable situations face difficulties in fulfilling life tasks during their youth,” and emphasized, “Efforts should be made to overcome psychological barriers and provide effective support through youth-created youth policies and the introduction of successful case mentors.”

Youth committee chair Lee Seung-yoon stressed, “Gwangju is gradually becoming a city from which youth are leaving,” and highlighted, “There is a need for tailored policies for Gwangju youth, including creating support spaces that accommodate diverse youth needs, introducing youth accelerators, and establishing public-private cooperation processes.”

Kwon Yoon-sook, Director of the Gwangju Youth Policy Division, noted, “Social exclusion and isolation of vulnerable youth are likely to lead to community problems,” introduced the 2024 youth policies and support projects, and outlined development plans for youth policy such as the Gwangju Youth Integrated Platform.

Council member Shim Chang-wook said, “Vulnerable youth face complex issues beyond economic problems, including social isolation and care gaps, placing them in policy blind spots,” and added, “I hope this forum will serve as an opportunity for changes in central and regional youth policies for vulnerable youth to respond to multifaceted youth issues and help Gwangju become a ‘Clean Gwangju’ where youth want to settle.”