What Proposals Emerged at the Yongsan-gu Senior and Youth Policy Forum?

Yongsan-gu Hosts Intergenerational Policy Forum at Youth Community Space 'Cheongnyeon Jium' in Complex Facility near International Building on Seobinggo-ro 17 with 5 Panelists Discussing Welfare, Jobs, Housing and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “In the midst of difficult and challenging lives, we have gathered this meaningful event where grateful elders who have led the wheel of the times to bring us this far, and the future generation who will be responsible for and lead the Republic of Korea, can openly share their thoughts and stories, find common ground, and work together to create a better Yongsan.”

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjang Hyun) held an ‘Elderly-Youth Policy Roundtable’ on the 11th at the youth community space ‘Cheongnyeon Jium’ (63-70 Hangangno 3-ga), located in the complex facility for residents’ convenience in the International Building Area 4 (Seobinggo-ro 17), under the theme of a future where Yongsan prospers together.

This was in line with the enforcement of the Youth Basic Act (August 5) and the designation of Youth Day (September 19), aiming to foster understanding and consensus between generations and to explore ways to develop key district policies.

The event lasted two hours and proceeded in the order of guest introductions, greetings, policy presentations, free speeches, and panel discussions. Five people attended, including Yongsan-gu Mayor Seongjang Hyun (host), elder panelists Kim Youngdal and An Aeja, and youth panelists Lee Sewon and Kim Sora.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the number of attendees was minimized, and health protocols such as temperature checks and social distancing were strictly observed.

The free speech session was conducted in the order of Kim Youngdal (79) from Bogwang-dong, An Aeja (79) from Ichon-dong, Lee Sewon (37), vice-chair of the Yongsan Youth Policy Advisory Group, and Kim Sora (26), vice-chair of the same group.

First, Mr. Kim Youngdal spoke about education on communication devices and elderly welfare in response to changing times. “As we age, people tend to drift apart. It is a reality that we rarely meet friends or even our children,” he said, suggesting that specialized smartphone education should be provided to the elderly to teach them how to take photos and videos, edit them, and share with others. He emphasized the need for various programs and corresponding support at senior welfare centers.

Ms. An Aeja proposed, “Instead of asking nearby elders to volunteer when welfare centers or senior centers need help, it would be better to replace this with elderly jobs and provide a certain level of compensation.” She also said, “It would be wonderful if young people like grandchildren could come to welfare centers to engage in hobbies such as choir or playing musical instruments, creating memories together.”

Next, youth panelist Lee Sewon suggested developing educational programs for young entrepreneurs, creating overseas employment opportunities through sister cities, and signing agreements to use video conferencing programs for active meetings during the COVID-19 situation. He particularly noted, “Many young people fail to find jobs or face difficulties and then try to start businesses. Rather than ignoring those who challenge without preparation, the district office should mandatorily recommend tax and labor education beforehand and provide certain incentives to those who complete the courses.”

Following that, Kim Sora said, “Yongsan-gu is among the districts with the highest monthly rents in Seoul and also has a high number of monthly lease contracts. I hope policies include benefits for young residents who have lived in Yongsan for a long time when moving into youth housing.”

Besides the roundtable, the district is creating various customized policies for each generation. For the elderly, it operates the first-ever Elderly Day designation and events in Seoul, tailored care services, and a dementia relief center, and is preparing to join the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities along with creating dementia-friendly villages.

For youth policies, it is operating a youth job fund (worth 11 billion KRW), enacting the Youth Basic Ordinance, running the Youth Policy Advisory Group (215 members), establishing youth community spaces (Cheongnyeon Jium, Youth Startup Support Center), building youth housing, and conducting youth mental health management projects throughout the year.

The original video of the Elderly-Youth Policy Roundtable can be viewed again on the Yongsan-gu Internet Broadcasting Station website.

Mayor Seongjang Hyun of Yongsan-gu said, “Although there have been several consultations and policy direction settings for elderly and youth projects, this is the first time that different generations have gathered to propose policies and share thoughts. We will continue to create such opportunities and do our best to ensure that the content is appropriately reflected in policies.”

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