Jeon Nam-do Councilor Gu Bok-gyu Proposes Ordinance to Support Out-of-Home Youth

Gu Bok-gyu, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] The Jeonnam Provincial Council announced on the 13th that the "Jeollanam-do Ordinance on the Prevention, Protection, and Support of Out-of-Home Youth," proposed by Gu Bok-gyu, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member (Democratic Party·Hwasun 2), was passed as originally proposed.

Out-of-home youth are young people who have left their guardians due to family conflicts, abuse, violence, or running away from home, and require social protection and support. In the past, they were called runaway youth and were viewed negatively, but now they are referred to as out-of-home youth as targets for youth welfare support.

According to data submitted by Gu Bok-gyu from the Jeonnam Police Agency, 573 runaway reports were received last year, and the runaway experience rate reached 1.4%. Most out-of-home youth were found to have been driven out of their homes due to domestic violence, abuse, or neglect.

The main contents of the ordinance specify the establishment of support plans for the prevention, protection, and support of out-of-home youth, as well as support projects such as early detection, protection, education, counseling, vocational training, and welfare.

Additionally, by establishing youth shelters, it enables stable living support such as providing residential spaces for out-of-home youth, as well as aftercare support including academic and college admission guidance.

Assembly member Gu Bok-gyu said, "The increase in youth runaway experience rates is a social problem caused by deepening family conflicts and the acceleration of family breakdown in modern society. It should not be neglected as a private family matter. Especially, out-of-home youth are at high risk of exposure to crime, so we all need to pay attention and actively work to protect youth."

He added, "This ordinance was established to provide institutional grounds to protect out-of-home youth and support their independence so that they can grow into healthy members of society."

This ordinance is scheduled to be submitted to the 2nd plenary session of the 357th extraordinary meeting on the 14th.

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