Ministry of Gender Equality and Family "Discussing Inclusion of 'Youth' in Department Name... Expanding Youth Participation"

2022 as the 'Year of Youth Policy Transition'
Launch of the 4th Youth Policy Committee
Review of Policy Development Using the 'Filling Period'
Operation of Job Experience Programs for Out-of-School Youth, etc.

Jeong Young-ae, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is delivering a greeting at the launch ceremony for participants of the Korea-ASEAN Youth Summit held on the 6th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to discuss including 'Youth' in the ministry's name and expand youth participation in the policy-making process.

On the 10th, the ministry announced that it will designate 2022 as the year of youth policy transition and actively gather opinions from youth, experts, and field officials regarding the inclusion of 'Youth' in the ministry's name.

This is to reflect various environmental changes surrounding youth in policies, such as the increase in at-risk youth, lowering the age of eligibility for candidacy, strengthening the foundation for youth social participation, and the rise in online activities among youth after COVID-19.

The ministry will shift the youth policy paradigm toward youth-led initiatives. It will newly launch the 4th Youth Policy Committee, a youth policy discussion body, and activate youth participation organizations so that youth, who are stakeholders in climate and environmental issues, can participate in problem-solving.

To support the operation of youth training facilities amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, activity funds will be provided, and the number of 'Youth After-School Academies' will be expanded from 332 last year to 350 this year. The ministry will also promote restructuring into digital-based activities by distributing digital youth activity programs utilizing the metaverse.

Various activities and career and job experience opportunities will be provided to help youth discover their aptitudes. In particular, policies will be developed to allow youth to take more challenging steps into society by utilizing 'gap years' and similar periods.

To strengthen the social safety net for at-risk youth, an 'Integrated Information Support System' will be established by 2023. Priority support such as work scholarships for youth entering or leaving shelters and specialized vocational experience programs for out-of-school youth will also be promoted.

The ministry will expand facilities for treating youth internet and smartphone overdependence and increase the number of personnel regularly inspecting random chat apps from 18 last year to 118 this year to respond to environmental changes.

To discuss the direction of youth policy implementation with youth organizations and related councils, the ministry will hold the '2022 Youth Sector New Year Meeting' chaired by the minister on the 21st and 26th. On the 14th, a meeting with youth-related academic societies will be held under the vice minister's chairmanship to gather opinions.

Jeong Young-ae, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, said, "In response to various environmental changes, it is necessary to provide policy support in many areas so that youth, who will lead the future of our country, can freely pursue their dreams. We will do our best as the main ministry for youth policy to actively promote customized youth policies that consider the characteristics of youth who prioritize values such as self-directedness, different from previous generations."

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