Minister Won Minkyoung Moves from 'Gender Equality' Talk Concerts to Dialogue with 'Out-of-Home Youth'

On the 26th at Gajaeul Youth Center, Discussing Tasks to Support Independent Living and Policy Improvement Measures

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Minkyoung will begin listening to voices in the field to identify the systems and support measures needed to help “out-of-home youth” prepare for independent living.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on the 25th that, together with the Korea Youth Counseling & Welfare Institute, it will hold “A Talk Concert with Out-of-Home Youth - Side by Side, Us” on the 26th at the Gajaeul Youth Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

This event has been prepared to listen to the support needed and on-site demands that arise in the process of out-of-home youth preparing for independence, and to identify policy improvement tasks. Around 50 people will attend, including Minister Won, out-of-home youth, workers at youth welfare facilities, and officials from related and partner organizations. Last year as well, Minister Won held a total of five “Gender Equality Talk Concerts” to directly examine the situation on the ground, in order to understand the causes of gender conflict and the support needed to realize gender equality.

The theme of this talk concert, “Side by Side, Us,” reflects the intention to show the world that out-of-home youth, who had been obscured by social indifference and misperceptions, are walking side by side in a healthy way within society as part of “us.” In addition, the subtitle “Connecting My Story, There Is Our Story!” has been set to share stories about experiencing “relationships of trust” during the process of preparing for independence, and about how government protection policies have “changed the course of their lives.”

In Session 1, “Change that Begins with Relationships,” participants will share their views on what out-of-home youth need. In Session 2, “Policies that Continue into Life,” a participant who was protected in a youth welfare facility and has now become a healthy adult will share their own experience.

Minister Won said, “To strengthen the self-reliance of out-of-home youth, we are working with related ministries such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to close gaps in the safety net so that basic living can be guaranteed, by measures such as easing eligibility requirements for public rental housing applications, expanding recognition of individual households for receipt of basic livelihood benefits, and expanding access to national scholarships,” adding, “Based on the suggestions made at this talk concert, we will pursue policies that provide practical support from the stage of preparing for independence through to the settlement phase after moving out.”