The First Year of Official Government Recognition as a Youth-Friendly City...
Designation Period of 5 Years with a Total Budget of 1 Billion KRW Over 5 Years
Consulting to Strengthen Youth Policy Formulation Capabilities and
Administrative and Financial Support for Promoting Youth-Friendly Policies
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee), known as the 'Youth Capital' with a youth population ratio of 41.4%, was honored on the 11th at the Government Complex Seoul as the first district in South Korea to be designated a ‘Youth-Friendly City.’
The ‘Youth-Friendly City’ designation is a system established under the Youth Basic Act, designated by the Prime Minister, aimed at fostering youth development and capacity building based on youth participation, creating regions that improve the quality of life for young people, and encouraging expansion to other local governments.
This designation is the first to be made since the legal basis was established in September 2023.
The Office for Government Policy Coordination, which oversees the Youth-Friendly City system, plans to select up to three local governments annually from among cities, counties, and districts (226 in total), as well as special autonomous cities (Sejong) and special autonomous provinces (Jeju), with a designation period of five years.
In the first year of designation, Gwanak-gu was the only district in the metropolitan area to be selected, with a total project budget of 1 billion KRW to be invested over five years.
Accordingly, the district will receive various benefits including education and consulting to strengthen youth policy formulation capabilities, as well as administrative and financial support for establishing and implementing youth-friendly policies reflecting local characteristics.
The district has been recognized as a ‘base for spreading youth policies’ among other local governments by leading customized youth policies.
In 2018, when the 7th local government administration began, a ‘Youth Policy Department’ was established, and in 2022, during the 8th administration, the first-ever ‘Youth Culture Bureau’ in Seoul was created, laying the foundation for systematic youth projects.
Last year, the city brand was changed to ‘Korea’s Youth Capital Gwanak’ to reaffirm its commitment to becoming a city where young people want to live.
In particular, the district secured youth activity spaces such as ‘Gwanak Youth Center’ and ‘Sillim-dong Three-Room,’ and supported the challenges and growth of young entrepreneurs through the promotion of ‘Gwanak S-Valley 2.0.’
It received high praise for forming a strong consensus by providing practical support to youth through differentiated, regionally tailored business models such as building startup infrastructure and creating ‘Gwanak S-Valley’ in connection with Seoul National University’s Campus Town to attract capable venture and startup companies.
This year, the district plans to establish youth policies and implement 41 detailed projects across four areas: ▲Participation & Rights ▲Jobs & Housing ▲Education ▲Culture & Welfare.
With the Youth-Friendly City designation, new policies utilizing local resources and characteristics, such as ‘4th Industrial Revolution Youth Future Talent Training Education’ and ‘Discovering Youth in Blind Spots,’ will be smoothly implemented.
Additionally, the district will conduct the ‘Gwanak-gu Youth-Friendly City Advancement Strategy Establishment Project’ to prepare for the full realization of the Youth-Friendly City through systematic project design.
The results of this research, which gathers youth opinions, are expected to be used in establishing a five-year plan for the Youth-Friendly City and in discovering projects necessary for youth independence and settlement.
Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “I feel immense pride and responsibility that Gwanak-gu was the first to be designated as a Youth-Friendly City in South Korea in its inaugural year.” He added, “Gwanak-gu will continue to demonstrate leading capabilities in youth policy over the five years of this designation.”
Gwanak-gu Continues Its Reputation as Seoul’s Leader with the 12th Alleyway Shopping District Newly Designated
Holding a total of 12 alleyway shopping districts, ranking first among Seoul’s autonomous districts... Now eligible for various supports equivalent to traditional markets, including Onnuri gift certificate handling, events, and environmental improvements
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has newly designated the 12th alleyway shopping district, maintaining its status as the district with the most alleyway shopping districts among Seoul’s autonomous districts for the second consecutive year.
The newly designated alleyway shopping district is the ‘Sillim Starlight Street Alleyway Shopping District’ located in Sillim-dong.
‘Sillim Starlight Street Alleyway Shopping District’ is situated in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, in an area where residential and commercial facilities are mixed.
This area has a high floating population due to its proximity to Sillim Station on Line 2 and the light rail, and features a variety of commercial facilities such as pubs, restaurants, fast food outlets, cafes, bookstores, and clothing stores, attracting many MZ generation visitors including college students in their 20s, young professionals, and office workers in their 30s and 40s.
Since 2020 through 2025, the ‘Starlight Sinsari Commercial District Renaissance’ project has been underway in nearby commercial areas including Sinwon Market and Seowon-dong shopping district, revitalizing the entire Sillim-dong commercial area.
However, this area had not been recognized as a traditional market, so it had not benefited from Onnuri gift certificate membership and faced restrictions in participating in various support projects promoted by the district.
In response, in April last year, the district amended the ‘Ordinance on the Activation Support of Alleyway Shopping Districts in Gwanak-gu, Seoul,’ relaxing the requirement for the concentration of small business stores within 2,000 square meters from 30 or more to 25 or more to qualify as an alleyway shopping district.
As a result, following the designation of six new commercial districts last year, the 12th alleyway shopping district was newly designated in February this year, enabling the area to enjoy support and benefits equivalent to those of traditional markets, including Onnuri gift certificate membership.
Meanwhile, since establishing the ‘Ordinance on the Activation Support of Alleyway Shopping Districts in Gwanak-gu, Seoul’ on December 31, 2020, the district has designated a total of 12 alleyway shopping districts, including Miseong-dong Dokkaebi Market, Nangok Alleyway Shopping District, Gwanak Central Market, Gangnam Alley Market, Bongnidan-gil Alleyway Shopping District, Seorim Happy Alleyway Shopping District, Bongcheon Moonlight Road Alleyway Shopping District, Namhyeon-dong Artist Village Alleyway Shopping District, Nokdu S-Valley Alleyway Shopping District, Nokdu Alleyway Shopping District, Haengundam-gil Alleyway Shopping District, and Sillim Starlight Street Alleyway Shopping District, and has been promoting various commercial district revitalization projects.
With the largest number of alleyway shopping districts among Seoul’s autonomous districts, the district expects this to be a stepping stone toward strengthening small business competitiveness and revitalizing alleyway commercial districts as part of its administrative goals.
Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Despite the difficult economy, I hope that various commercial districts filled with memories in every alley will continue to be maintained, providing convenience and enjoyment to residents.” He added, “We will continue to put all our efforts into discovering new alleyway shopping districts and revitalizing alleyway commercial areas to support small business owners during these challenging times.”
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