Changwon Special City, "We will help young people settle in Changwon and pursue their dreams"

Institutional Foundation Established Through Implementation of the 'Basic Housing Ordinance'
... Strengthening Policies on Jobs, Education, and Culture

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam is implementing various youth policies to create a city where young people want to stay.

Changwon Special City Holds Opening Ceremony for Youth Culture and Arts Complex Space 'Sponge Park'.

Based on the recently enacted ‘Changwon City Basic Ordinance on Youth Housing,’ the city plans to strengthen concrete measures such as the supply of youth housing. Furthermore, it will attempt an integrated approach encompassing housing, jobs, education, and cultural policies to help young people settle down and realize their dreams.

Two ordinances that will serve as the foundation for stabilizing and supporting youth housing in Changwon came into effect on the 10th. These ordinances are the ‘Basic Ordinance on Youth Housing’ and the ‘Ordinance on Support for Public Contribution-type Youth Housing, etc.’ They are expected to provide an institutional basis for transitioning youth housing policies, which had been fragmented and temporary, into integrated and mid- to long-term strategies. Additionally, a ‘Youth and Newlywed Rental Housing Support Ordinance’ will be enacted in the second half of this year.

This year, the city will provide on-site training for youth through new industry-linked job projects (150 people) and work experience support projects (50 people). It also plans to continuously support quality jobs for youth by linking with local universities and companies, including 163 people in regionally led youth job projects such as aviation and energy, which are competitive projects.

The city will actively collaborate with related institutions such as specialized high schools and universities in the region to overcome the local education crisis and nurture high-level talent.

2024 Youth Startup Idea Competition Awards Ceremony.

First, designated last year as the first pilot area for the Education Development Special Zone, the city operates industry site-customized education programs utilizing human and material resources from universities for five specialized high schools in the area. It supports understanding of the field and skill acquisition through company tours and expert lectures. The city plans to improve the strengths and weaknesses of the 2024 project, which runs until April, so that the 2025 project starting in the second half of the year will be a demand-centered education program.

Since last year, the city has been implementing the nation’s first ‘Youth Sports Pass Project.’ This year, the target age group for support has been expanded from 25?39 years old to 19?39 years old, and the scope of employed small and medium-sized enterprises has been extended from within the city to outside the city. The support quota is 500 people, and recruitment began on the 20th of last month. Selected youth can enjoy various sports activities using welfare points worth 100,000 won.

Additionally, the city is working to make Sponge Park, a youth cultural and artistic complex space, a landmark. To attract pop-up spaces, it is easing commercial activity regulations within the facility and securing funds through participation in public contests, aiming to develop Sponge Park as a hub for local youth culture.

Mayor Hong Nam-pyo said, “Although it is difficult to prevent youth outflow by Changwon City’s efforts alone, we will focus on strengthening housing, jobs, education, and cultural policies for youth and do our best to create a city where the population reverses in the long term and young people want to stay.”

Meanwhile, Changwon Special City will conduct a research project this year to establish the ‘Basic Youth Policy Plan (2026?2030).’ Through analyzing the actual conditions of Changwon youth and internal and external circumstances, the city will prepare a new direction for youth policies and identify feasible tasks by sector, thereby establishing a five-year youth policy plan to be applied from 2026. The plan will also include initiatives such as ‘Creating a Youth-Friendly City’ and ‘Supporting Socially Isolated Youth.’