35 Youth Policies to Be Implemented This Year with a Budget of 8.5 Billion KRW
Expansion of Youth Employment and Startup Centers, Youth Internship Programs
Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) will implement 35 youth policies this year, investing a budget of 8.5 billion KRW. Compared to the previous year, the number of projects increased by two and the budget by 200 million KRW. Despite challenging economic conditions both domestically and internationally, the district's commitment to strengthening welfare for youth stands out.
A district official stated, “Our goal this year is to solve various issues faced by youth such as employment, welfare, and culture, and to create an environment where their potential can be fully realized.”
‘Youth Employment’ ? Reliable with Dobong
First, Dobong-gu will expand its youth internship program, significantly increasing the number of participants and budget compared to last year. The internship program is divided into three types: public institution internships, corporate practical internships, and overseas internships.
This year, 32 participants will join, 13 more than last year. The breakdown is 15 for public institutions, 8 for corporate practical internships, and 9 for overseas internships. The budget allocated is 450 million KRW, an increase of 180 million KRW from the previous year.
The program aims to provide excellent young talent to institutions and companies facing labor shortages, while offering youth opportunities to gain job experience and demonstrate their potential, creating a mutually beneficial growth effect for both companies and youth.
The Youth Employment Support Center’s operational programs and employment support services have been further strengthened. The center opened on the first floor of Dobong-gu Office in May last year and has served a total of 2,328 users to date.
This year, the district plans to provide services such as interview photo shoots and suit rentals through the center, along with various employment programs.
Employment programs include one-on-one employment consulting, job-specific lectures by current professionals, short-term youth language courses, public enterprise NCS written test courses, and intensive interview speech courses, covering the entire process from initial preparation to successful employment.
Dobong as a Hub for Youth Startups, Changdong
Dobong-gu focuses on nurturing young entrepreneurial talent through the Dobong Youth Startup Center. Since opening on the 4th floor of Seed Cube Changdong in May last year, 25 youth companies have moved in. Within six months of opening, resident companies achieved 2 billion KRW in sales and attracted 500 million KRW in investment funds, surprising everyone.
Support includes startup spaces such as two-person and four-person rooms and shared offices, specialized business offices for 3D video content startups, multipurpose studios for video production and product photography, dedicated and expert mentoring through Kwangwoon University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, promotion platform linkage, investment capacity building, and networking expansion programs tailored to growth stages.
The youth store startup support project is also underway, providing up to 26 million KRW in initial startup funds such as remodeling costs and rent to youth preparing for entrepreneurship.
Support for youth pre-startup companies producing 3D video content is being strengthened. Currently, four related companies reside in the Dobong Youth Startup Center, and the center is conducting specialized practical training in 3D video content production to discover additional startup companies.
Supporting Growth of Young Musicians
Various cultural events will be planned and promoted centered on the ‘Emerging Young Artist Growth Program.’ This will foster collaboration between local young musicians and outstanding domestic musicians to support the growth of local youth musicians. Additionally, the Eum Studio (professional music creation facility) and Gong-eum Studio (video studio) will be utilized to support creative exchange among young musicians.
Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “We will diligently implement youth policies this year so that young people can settle in Dobong-gu and grow freely.”
After the Cold Wave, ‘Spring’... Songpa-gu Holds Youth Artists’ 'Walk Time' Exhibition
At ‘Cultural Experiment Space Hosu’ until March 16... The Last Exhibition of 2024 Selected Youth Artists
Peaceful spring-inspired painting style with rich colors showcased... Linked programs also offered
Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) will hold a two-person youth artist exhibition titled 'Walk Time' at the Cultural Experiment Space Hosu (256 Songpanaru-gil) from February 15, the tail end of the ‘Ipchun Cold Wave,’ until March 16, featuring works imbued with the spirit of spring.
The district has been showcasing fresh works by emerging artists at the Cultural Experiment Space Hosu through youth artist contests. This exhibition is the fifth and final in a relay series by 10 teams selected last year, which began in October. Various exhibitions in fields such as Eastern and Western painting, crafts, illustration, and video have been held consecutively, delighting many visitors.
The theme of this exhibition is ‘Spring Walk,’ with keywords ‘nature, peace, rest.’ Artists Kim Narae, known for vivid colors, and Lim Boryeong, known for warm painting styles, present new works fitting the theme. The exhibition includes about 20 beautiful paintings, including large works over 1 meter wide, creating a natural and comfortable atmosphere perfect for a stroll around early spring Seokchon Lake.
First, Kim Narae, distinguished by high saturation and brilliant colors, fills the canvas with elements borrowed from tradition and nature. The works are easy to appreciate yet stimulate allegorical imagination with unique characteristics.
Lim Boryeong often paints girls enjoying gentle breezes under the theme ‘Life’s Journey.’ Using various materials such as canvas, ceramics, and wood panels, the artist presents soft colors and peaceful images.
Both artists also run exhibition-linked experiential programs open to all. Kim Narae offers an art class titled ‘Drawing My Own Querencia,’ where participants learn acrylic paint techniques and color mixing to create their own ‘sanctuary.’ Lim Boryeong prepares a session to freely complete paintings under the theme ‘Life’s Journey.’
To participate, pre-registration is required via the ‘Seoul Public Service Reservation’ website, with a small material fee. Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “This spring, please visit Seokchon Lake, transforming into a cultural and artistic hotspot, to experience works by talented local young artists. We will do our best to provide various opportunities and foundations for capable young artists to actively engage in 2025 as well.”
Gwanak-gu Holds ‘High School Entrance Preparation Strategy’ Briefing in Preparation for 2028 College Admission Reform
Inviting Yoon Yoon-gu, former EBS Field Teacher Group College Entrance Exam Chief and current EBS Admission Briefing Lead Lecturer
Providing high school entrance strategies for middle school students in response to 2028 college admissions, CSAT reform, and transition to 5-grade high school GPA system
Following the announcement by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation of the test and scoring system for the 2028 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) late last year, alongside the full expansion of the high school credit system and transition to a 5-grade high school GPA system, Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is offering strategies for high school and college entrance preparation to students and parents facing confusion due to these changes.
The briefing will be held on March 15 at 1 PM in the Gwanak-gu Office auditorium, targeting middle school students from grades 1 to 3 and their parents.
Yoon Yoon-gu, specially invited by the district, served as the chief of the EBS CSAT Field Teacher Group last year and currently acts as the lead lecturer for EBS admission briefings and an advisory member for the Ministry of Education’s education policy.
In this special lecture, Yoon will share the direction of the 2028 CSAT questions and preparation strategies, as well as personalized high school selection methods and college entrance study techniques.
Registration opens on February 20 at 6 PM on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of 350 participants who are either enrolled in middle schools in Gwanak-gu or residents with middle school students in the district.
Residents wishing to attend can apply via the Gwanak Career and Job Experience Support Center website. Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “We hope this special lecture will serve as a good guide for students and parents to prepare in advance for the changing admission policies and plan for the future. We will continue to support various programs to strengthen students’ career and academic capabilities.”
Geumcheon-gu Holds Book Concert Commemorating 80th Anniversary of Liberation with Author Jo Jung-rae, Writer of ‘Taebaek Mountains’
Book concert with author Jo Jung-rae on March 1 to commemorate 80 years of liberation and 30 years since district establishment
Three sessions planned in March, June, and August with various invited authors
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) announced it will hold a book concert with author Jo Jung-rae on March 1 at 2 PM in the 12th-floor auditorium of Geumcheon-gu Office to commemorate the 80th anniversary of liberation and the 30th anniversary of the district’s establishment.
The event was planned to select literary works dealing with the Japanese colonial period and liberation, listen to the author’s stories, and reflect on the meaning of liberation.
The first book concert will be held under the theme ‘Why We Must Not Forget History’ with Jo Jung-rae, author of works such as ‘Arirang’ and ‘Taebaek Mountains.’
Jo Jung-rae has emphasized the importance of history through novels like ‘Arirang,’ which depicts the suffering and independence struggle of the Korean people during the Japanese colonial era, and ‘Taebaek Mountains,’ set in the post-liberation and division period.
Residents interested in the event can apply from February 17 to 26 via the integrated reservation website of Geumcheon-gu Office. On-site registration is also possible on the day of the event if online registration is not completed. A district official said, “March 1 is a historically significant day marking Korea’s declaration of independence during the Japanese colonial period and also the 30th anniversary of Geumcheon-gu’s establishment, making this event especially meaningful.”
Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “Through this book concert with a history-related author commemorating the 80th anniversary of liberation, we hope the current generation will take time to reflect on the lives of that era and the meaning of liberation.”
The district plans to select books about liberation and invite various authors to hold a total of three book concerts on historical anniversaries in March, June, and August this year.
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