56 Projects Across Five Key Sectors Including Culture and Jobs
Sustained Startup Support Through Enhanced Marketing and Distribution
On May 19, Gwangju Donggu District announced that it is implementing practical startup support and customized education policies to create a city where young people can take the lead in their own growth and independence.
Based on the "2024-2028 Basic Plan for Youth Policy," Donggu is currently promoting youth-tailored policies this year in five major areas?culture, jobs, youth education, housing and welfare, and participation and rights?by allocating a total budget of approximately 48.7 billion KRW across 56 projects. In particular, Donggu is emphasizing policies that encompass all aspects of young people's lives, under the value of "a community that grows together," going beyond simply helping youth settle in the area.
In the field of culture, a total of nine projects are being carried out, including the operation of the Donggu Youth Center (D.GIT) and the Gwangju Chumjang Festival of Memories, in which young people directly participate in planning.
The "Urban Campus" project of Chosun University College of Fine Arts, which turns the city into a campus outside of school, is being operated in the Seonam-dong printing street. Selected as part of the Youth Village Creation Contest, the project supports training public designers, upcycling waste through design, and selling works by young artists. Through these initiatives, Donggu aims to encourage young people to settle in the district and is focusing on operating an art platform that facilitates communication.
The jobs sector focuses on nurturing youth enterprises and revitalizing startups. Dongmyeong Youth Creative Center, the F&B Commerce Building Program, and a total of 15 projects are being operated, expanding comprehensive support from the early stages of startup to business settlement.
Specifically, Donggu is pursuing customized consulting, building sales channels, and youth networking programs, among others, with the goal of creating an environment in which young people can independently develop their own models of success through various means.
A noteworthy aspect of Donggu’s youth startup policy is its consideration of sustainability after the launch of a business. To this end, Donggu offers hands-on training to strengthen marketing and distribution capabilities, helping entrepreneurs secure practical competitiveness. The commerce practical program, which consists of operating a proprietary online store, creating detailed product pages, and hands-on online sales practice, supports participants in achieving self-sustaining operations after starting their businesses, establishing itself as a new model for youth entrepreneurship.
The youth education sector focuses on helping young people design their life paths and build self-reliance. A total of nine programs are underway, including "Filling in Everyday Life Skills," "Youth Empathy Lectures," and "Young Speaker."
In the housing and welfare sector, where housing stability for young people is the core focus, 39.8 billion KRW is being invested in 17 projects. The aim is to reduce the housing burden and establish a practical welfare system through initiatives such as operating youth housing, supporting safe rental contracts for single-person households, and providing temporary special support for youth monthly rent.
In the participation and rights sector, Donggu is laying the groundwork to reflect the voices of young people in policy. Through six projects, including the Youth Participatory Budget System, the Donggu Youth General Assembly, and strengthening the youth policy governance system, Donggu supports young people in becoming both the consumers and designers of policy.
District Mayor Lim Taek stated, "Young people are the future of Donggu and its core asset today," adding, "We will ensure that the starting point of our policies is found in the voices of young people, so that they can take on challenges, grow, and settle in the district."
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