[Interview] Yoodonggyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu: "We Will Do Our Best to Create a City That Gives Hope to Youth"

The 'Mapo-type Youth Job Project' linking job creation after capacity building is a representative success case... To promote life-oriented youth policies... Operation of the 'Youth Policy Network' and creation of youth-exclusive spaces... Utilizing transit station area youth housing and 'MH Mapo Housing'... Supporting youth housing stability

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “I hope Mapo-gu becomes a city that gives hope to young people. To achieve this, it is important to first listen to what young people want and then implement realistic policies that meet those needs.”

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, recently told reporters, “We will promote youth policies that reflect the realities and future concerns of young people.”

Having settled in Mapo since the age of 14 and living there for nearly half a century, Mayor Yoo is recognized as a local expert who skillfully incorporates regional characteristics into district administration. This approach is no exception in youth policy. The “Mapo-type Youth Job Project,” which strengthens young people’s capabilities through job training tailored to the characteristics of the Mapo area and links them to local jobs, is a representative success story. Mayor Yoo said, “Last year, we launched the nation’s first ‘Mapo Typeface Development Project,’ selecting young people aspiring to become typeface designers and enhancing their skills through job training, resulting in the creation of the Mapo Typeface that anyone in Mapo-gu can use. All participants who gained work experience through this project remarkably succeeded in employment or entrepreneurship in related fields.”

The success of this project boosted confidence in the “Mapo-type Youth Job Project.” This year, 40 young people were selected and trained in three key industries?4th industry (IT), broadcasting, and design?centered around the Sangam DMC and Hongdae areas, which are representative local industries. While carrying out tasks, they contributed to district development, developed their capabilities, and prepared to enter society. So far, nine have succeeded in finding employment. The district plans to continuously support their employment or entrepreneurship in cooperation with local companies.

So far, young people have carried out about 20 tasks. For example, they designed an emergency medicine ring needed for patent applications at the health center, analyzed areas for public Wi-Fi installation, and produced various promotional videos such as those on the history and origin of Mapo-gu. They also frequently participated in contests and won several awards, which Mayor Yoo proudly mentioned. He said, “For young people, ‘jobs are the best welfare.’ Young people who have just graduated from university naturally lack work skills, so the ‘Mapo-type Youth Job Project,’ which supplements this by providing professional training and linking them to local companies for employment, is a win-win policy for both companies and youth and should be the direction we aim for in the future.”

In addition, the district is very interested in creating youth community spaces that support future planning such as employment and entrepreneurship. Representative examples are “Mapo Youth Naru,” selected as a Seoul Metropolitan Job Cafe in July, and “Seoul Youth Center Mapo Orang,” which opened in Hapjeong-dong in December. Mayor Yoo said, “These two spaces are dedicated youth spaces to support young people struggling amid difficult economic conditions and fierce competition,” adding, “We will operate them to provide customized services that reflect the vivid voices of youth.”

Mayor Yoo believes that for life-oriented youth policies to become a reality, youth participation in policy-making must be activated. The “Mapo-gu Youth Policy Network,” a public forum for discovering youth policies, aligns with this philosophy. This year, the network recruited 25 youth members residing in the area and held 24 sessions to discuss youth policies. As a result, five policy proposals were submitted to Seoul City, all of which were selected, securing a budget of 250 million won. Five projects, including “Mapo Youth Hope Meal!,” “Mapo-gu Youth Hope Restaurant,” and “Establishment and Operation of Mapo-gu Youth Housing Counseling Center,” are scheduled to be implemented next year as customized projects that help young people’s daily lives.

Along with this, Mayor Yoo spoke about expanding youth housing, saying, “To allow young people to pursue their dreams and passions, resolving housing issues where they can live comfortably is essential.” The district is promoting plans to support housing stability by utilizing youth housing near subway stations that facilitate commuting to school and work. Currently, in close cooperation with Seoul City (SH Corporation), youth housing near subway stations is being constructed in the Seogyo-dong and Changcheon-dong areas, with 222 public rental housing units planned to be provided for youth housing stability.

Additionally, the district plans to revise the regulations for establishing the Mapo-gu Housing Stability Fund to include youth as eligible residents for “MH Mapo Housing,” a Mapo-type housing welfare system. In this way, the district intends to continuously expand demand-tailored housing for youth and strengthen policy support for their housing stability. Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said, “There is a Hebrew word ‘Hutzpah,’ meaning ‘boldness’ and ‘audacity,’ which reflects Israel’s unique spirit of challenge. I think this ‘Hutzpah’ spirit is exactly what our youth need now,” adding, “We will support the ‘Hutzpah’ spirit of young people and do our best to create an atmosphere and institutional support in Mapo-gu where youth can boldly take on challenges without fear.”

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