Gangnam-gu Changes Youth Training Center to Youth Center

Various Program Operations as Community-Centered Facilities

Gangnam-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) announced on the 3rd that starting this year, the names of Gangnam Youth Training Center and Yeoksam Youth Training Center will be changed to Gangnam Youth Center and Yeoksam Youth Center, respectively, and that they will be reborn as central facilities of the local community through various programs for residents and youth.

Youth participating in the Youth Harmony Festival. Provided by Gangnam-gu.

The district-run youth training centers are representative local facilities used by 450,000 people annually and have been loved as spaces for youth development and leisure for local residents. In particular, last year, they actively responded to youth drug issues by participating in the drug addiction prevention declaration ceremony and training drug prevention instructors. As a result, both facilities received the Seoul Metropolitan City Youth Facility Association President’s Award on December 26, recognizing the excellence of their youth program operations.

Yeoksam Youth Training Center received the Prime Minister’s Commendation for youth development and protection at the 20th Korea Youth Expo, as well as commendations from the Korea Youth Training Facilities Association for exemplary youth instructors and facilities. Gangnam Youth Training Center also received the Superintendent’s Commendation in the student volunteer activity category, establishing themselves as top youth facilities through multiple external awards.

The district plans to become more approachable to both residents and youth through this name change and to leap forward as a central facility of the local community. In particular, starting from the 1st of this month, the discount on usage fees for multi-child families (30%) has been expanded from families with three or more children to youth with two or more children (aged 9 to 24 according to the Youth Basic Act), allowing more families to benefit.

Additionally, the district supports youth growth and participation through various education, experience, and recreational sports programs, youth club support, operation of youth harmony events, and expansion of youth participation organizations. Alongside this, swimming pools, sports programs, and cultural lectures for residents will be expanded, and festivals involving local residents such as children’s writing and drawing contests and intergenerational swimming competitions are also planned.

District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong said, “I hope the district-run youth centers will become spaces for communication and harmony where youth can nurture their dreams and passions and all local residents can enjoy together,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to contribute to the healthy growth of youth and the vitality of the local community.”