Yongsan-gu Youth Business Launches in Full Swing... Seoul City Secures Budget of 245 Million Won

Great Achievement in Selecting Four Projects Including Collaborative Governance Operation for Youth Policy... Secured 245 Million KRW in Project Funds... Finalized After City Council Budget Review

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjanghyun) secured 245 million KRW in funding for the activation of youth policy governance projects in autonomous districts through the 2021 Seoul Metropolitan Government’s youth autonomous budget public voting (M-Voting).

The activation project for youth policy governance in autonomous districts is part of the youth autonomous budget system, aimed at establishing a framework for youth policy activities and participation by having local youth and the district government jointly promote the project.

After thorough deliberation with the Yongsan-gu Youth Policy Advisory Group, the district proposed four projects to Seoul City: ▲ Collaborative governance operation for youth policy ▲ Youth Why Not Project ▲ Useful Youth Encyclopedia ▲ Youth 3 Paths Exploration (‘Know Path’, ‘Beautiful Path’, ‘Happy Path’), all of which were successfully selected.

Utilizing the secured city budget, the district will begin operating collaborative governance for youth policy starting next year. An operating secretariat will be formed with 215 members of the Youth Policy Advisory Group, the district’s youth participation organization, and dedicated personnel (policy coordinators) will be appointed. Youth policy capabilities will also be strengthened through the youth policy school “Because I’m New to Being a Youth.”

Additionally, the district will support advisory group projects by each subcommittee and provide subcommittee meetings and agenda discovery consulting to enhance the professionalism of project implementation.

The Youth Why Not Project is a consulting program for youth startups, entrepreneurs, and office workers. It particularly supports young entrepreneurs who start with passion but may quit midway due to lack of experience, and helps youth who want to change jobs to resign wisely and explore new career paths. Experts in legal, labor, employment, and career transition fields will be involved to guide youth in life planning.

The Useful Youth Encyclopedia is a lifestyle-oriented service for single-person youth households. Planned programs include “I Live Alone” for organizing living spaces, “Time Rich” for goal management, and lectures on rental protection laws and taxes. Social dining and the “Hansotbap” program, which involves foreigners, are also being planned. The goal is to strengthen the community spirit of the increasing number of single-person youth households.

The “Youth 3 Paths Exploration” project builds the local brand image from the youth perspective. Especially through “Know Path,” it introduces youth to the charm of Yongsan where past and present coexist and deeply explores the region’s changes and traces.

“Beautiful Path” is a neighborhood exploration program spreading the charm of areas like Huam-dong and Haebangchon. “Happy Path” is a youth activity space tour program that visits youth networks in other regions.

The project budget secured by the district will be finalized at the end of this year after the Seoul City Council’s budget review.

Seongjanghyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “Through active deliberation with the Youth Policy Advisory Group, we achieved the great success of having all four projects selected for the autonomous district governance activation project. We will establish a foundation for collaborative governance through active communication and exchange with youth.”

In July, the district established a Youth Support Team within the Elderly and Youth Division to accelerate youth policy activation. This team manages projects such as establishing the basic youth policy plan, operating the Yongsan-gu Youth Policy Advisory Group and committees, and activating youth policy governance.

Recently, the district created the youth community space “Yongsan Youth Jium” and a youth startup support center in the complex facility for residents’ convenience around International Building Zone 4 (Seobinggo-ro 17). Yongsan Youth Jium, with 648㎡, is the largest youth community space in Seoul. It includes a book caf?, healing room, mini cinema, and promotes youth skill development and capacity building, youth community support and activation, and regionally specialized projects. The youth startup support center will house 17 startup companies and 11 prospective entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, the district continuously promotes youth employment projects, Youth Hope Savings Accounts and Youth Savings Accounts operation, youth housing construction, and youth mental health management projects throughout the year.

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