Unhealthy Encounter-Promoting Random Chatting App Designated as Harmful Media

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Announces Inclusive National Youth Policy Directions

Some Random Chatting Apps Designated as Harmful Media for Youth
Establishment of Online Youth Labor Protection Platform
Strengthening Labor Rights Education

Promotion of Exceptions to the 'Shutdown System'

Minister Lee Jung-ok of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] A foundation is being established for all youth to actively participate in policy processes, and related terminology will be significantly revised.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on the 11th that at the 5th Social Relations Ministers' Meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, they discussed the inclusive national youth policy direction and set four major strategies to reestablish the youth policy foundation.

The inclusive national youth policy will be promoted through four major strategies: ▲shifting to youth-centered policies ▲ensuring equal growth opportunities ▲creating a safe living environment ▲reestablishing the youth policy foundation.

First, at the community level, a foundation will be created where any youth can easily propose policies and actively participate in the policy process at any time. Pilot projects for youth participation activities in local communities will be conducted in six locations nationwide. At the government level, an online participation portal will be activated to operate a channel where anyone can participate in policies. The "Korea-ASEAN Youth Summit" will be held annually to provide a venue where youths from each country can gather. Additionally, old youth shelters will be renovated, and dedicated spaces reflecting the characteristics and needs of out-of-school youth will be continuously expanded.

To strengthen the response capacity for high-risk youth, dedicated support organizations for at-risk youth (9 locations) will be installed and expanded within local governments, and a new system will be established to automatically transfer information on school dropouts from schools to out-of-school youth support centers. Case management for youth single parents will also be strengthened.

To protect youth from online sex crimes, random chat apps that may encourage unhealthy meetings such as prostitution among youth will be designated as harmful media for youth. Once designated as harmful media, youth will be prohibited from using them, and only adults will be allowed access. Furthermore, measures will be prepared to protect youth from small-amount interest money lending (proxy deposits) targeting youth through social network services (SNS), and an "Online Youth Labor Protection Platform" will be established along with strengthened labor rights education.

Meanwhile, the youth-related legal system and terminology will be revised to newly reestablish the youth policy foundation. Terms such as fostering, guidance, and training will be changed to growth support and experience. A new area called "Youth Rights and Participation Promotion" will be established, and regulations concerning various fundamental rights, prohibited types of discrimination, and responsibilities of youth as social agents will be specified. Youth training centers and others will be integrated into youth centers.

Additionally, reflecting field opinions for institutional improvement, an exemption from the "Shutdown System" will be pursued only for players registered with the Korea e-Sports Association. To expand the issuance of the "Youth ID Card" since 2004, preferential benefits for the Youth ID Card will be discovered through public-private cooperation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.