Gyeonggi-do Hosts Traditional Snack Making Event with 'Jalipjunbi Cheongnyeon' for Lunar New Year

Gyeonggi Province held a Lunar New Year event with youth preparing for independence.

On the 24th, Gyeonggi Province announced on the 25th that it held the ‘Lunar New Year Haerumdal Traditional Snack Making’ event, where youth preparing for independence and their mentors enjoyed the festive atmosphere together.

This event was part of the ‘Gyeonggi Province Youth Preparing for Independence Mentor-Mentee Support’ project, which has been ongoing since 2023. It was hosted by Hope Neoul, the Gyeonggi Province Independence Support Agency, and about 30 youth preparing for independence and mentors participated at Starfield Suwon.

The youth preparing for independence listened to explanations on how to make traditional Korean snacks, Hangwa and Hwagra, and experienced making them with their mentors, providing a time to reflect on the meaning and value of the holiday while fostering intergenerational communication.

In particular, a natural atmosphere of communication was formed as participants shared warm feelings as a social family and talked about their daily lives, building intimacy.

Gyeonggi Province held a traditional cookie-making event for youth preparing for independence on the 24th in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

The ‘Youth Preparing for Independence Mentor-Mentee Support Project’ is designed to connect various mentors to youth aged 18 and over who have left child welfare facilities or whose foster care has ended (protected children aging out), providing emotional support and assistance to become a social family.

So far, starting with the first mentor, Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province, a total of 873 people (508 mentors and 365 mentees) have participated in 151 sessions last year, including cultural experiences such as reading, movies, musicals, theater, sports, and museums, birthday parties, kimchi sharing, career counseling, travel, and camping. These activities have expanded the social relationships of youth preparing for independence and promoted their psychological and emotional stability.

Yoon Young-mi, Director of the Women and Family Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, "This event was planned so that youth preparing for independence could spend a warm time with their mentors during the holiday." She added, "We hope this will give hope and courage to the youth preparing for independence and strengthen communication between mentors and mentees."