Iksan City to Establish 'National Honam Region Youth Didim Center'

Project Cost of 22 Billion KRW...
Targeting Opening in 2027

The construction of the 'National Honam Region Youth Didim Center' in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, will break ground for the first time this year.

The city announced on the 13th that it has secured a budget of 3.7 billion KRW, including part of the construction costs and supervision fees for the Youth Didim Center, and will begin construction within the first half of the year.

Perspective view of the National Honam Youth Didim Center. Provided by Iksan City

The 'Youth Didim Center', which will be located in Wari, Hamyeol-eup, is a national facility for youth healing and rehabilitation. The goal is to open the center by 2027.

The city, together with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, has been carrying out preliminary administrative procedures for the center’s establishment, including a basic survey in 2022, an environmental survey and design initiation in 2023, and the designation of urban management facilities (social welfare facilities, roads) last year.

The total project cost for the construction is 22 billion KRW. Until last year, 1.6 billion KRW had been allocated for compensation and design service fees. This year, 3.7 billion KRW has been secured for part of the 2025 construction costs and supervision fees, and full-scale construction will begin in June.

The Didim Center is a residential healing facility that supports youths aged 9 to 18 who are struggling with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, or anxiety.

Through integrated healing programs such as counseling, psychiatric treatment, alternative education, life protection, career exploration, and experiential activities, the center helps youths grow up healthy and stable in school and society.

In fact, over the past two years, pre- and post-psychological test results of participants in the Didim Center’s healing programs have shown a decrease in various risk factors and an increase in positive indices, demonstrating the effectiveness of the programs. These effects are also leading to recovery in daily life.

However, since there is only one Didim Center each in Gyeonggi Province and Daegu, youths in the Honam region have faced difficulties accessing the facilities due to geographical limitations.

The city expects that if a national youth treatment and rehabilitation center is established in Iksan, which is well equipped with professional treatment and rehabilitation infrastructure, it will be able to provide specialized and differentiated programs for local youths.

Mayor Jung Heon-yul said, "Due to various factors such as the decline in family functions and a competition-oriented educational environment, our youths are experiencing stress and anxiety," and added, "We will do our utmost to ensure that youths facing emotional difficulties can recover through the programs of the residential healing and rehabilitation center."