An Island of Opportunity for Young People
A Source of Vitality for Residents
Ulleung County in North Gyeongsang Province, in collaboration with the youth organization Nomador, will hold the opening ceremony for the youth village "MZG Ulleung" at the former Hyeonpo Branch School on November 7.
By providing part of the property of the closed Hyeonpo Branch School, which was loaned for administrative purposes, as a youth activity hub, Ulleung County has established a decisive foundation for being selected for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Youth Village Development Project in 2026.
This opening ceremony marks the first step toward envisioning a sustainable future for Ulleung Island, created together by young people and local residents. It will be a meaningful occasion attended by local residents, youth activists, and related officials.
The event will be divided into two parts: the opening ceremony and the Ulleung Forum. In the first part, local residents and youth will participate together to share the background of the establishment and the future operational direction of "MZG Ulleung," and will have time to tour the youth village space and interact with one another.
The second part will feature the Ulleung Forum, which will explore the present and future of youth villages on Ulleung Island. Lee Seoncheol, CEO of Potato Flower Studio; Kim Yunbae, Head of the Ulleungdo Dokdo Marine Research Base; and Kim Minjeong, CEO of Ulleung Small Business Forum and Dokdo Stationery, will participate to engage in in-depth discussions on the direction of Ulleungdo's youth villages from the perspectives of "relationship population," "residents," and "youth," respectively.
This forum aims to present a vision of youth not simply as "those who stay," but as key players who understand the island's resources, coexist with residents, and create new possibilities.
Park Chanwoong, CEO of Nomador, which operates the youth village "MZG Ulleung," stated, "Ulleung Island remains an unknown place for many, but it holds infinite potential within. MZG Ulleung will be a platform to explore that potential together, where residents and young people can learn from each other and experiment with sustainable island living models."
MZG Ulleung is a project under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Youth Village Development Project, combining Ulleung County's local resources with the creativity of young people to experiment with new possibilities for the island.
Ulleung County and Nomador plan to use this opening ceremony as an opportunity to promote a variety of programs for the joint growth of youth and residents, and to actively support the expansion of relationship populations and youth activities rooted in the local community.
County Governor Nam Hankwon said, "Ulleung Island is no longer just a tourist destination, but is transforming into a future home where young people and residents live together. I hope that with the opening of this youth village, Ulleung will become an island of opportunity for young people and a source of vitality for residents."
The "MZG Ulleung" Ulleung Anchor Program, which will take place as part of the opening ceremony, will be operated in three tracks.
Each track is designed for young people who do not know Ulleung Island, those who want to learn more about it, and those who wish to live there, allowing them to experience the island's nature and culture while interacting with local residents.
The program will also include opportunities to share experiences of relocating to the island, visits to local farms, and meetings with young small business owners, providing participants with the chance to experience the diverse lifestyles of Ulleung Island.
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