President Yoon Holds Meeting with Youth Preparing for Independence... 'Welfare Steps for the Vulnerable'

Yoon Visits Chungnam Self-Reliance Support Agency to Talk with Youth and Stakeholders

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Seok-yeol reiterated on the 13th his commitment that the state will embrace and support youth preparing for independence so that they do not feel alone.

On the day, President Yoon visited the Chungnam Independent Support Center in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, toured the independent living facilities for youth preparing for independence, and held a meeting with youth preparing for independence, center officials, and representatives from religious groups, businesses, and universities.

The Independent Support Center provides one-on-one management and integrated independence support services to youth preparing for independence within five years after leaving child welfare facilities or foster care. Currently, there are 12 centers operating nationwide in various cities and provinces, and the government plans to expand this to 17 cities and provinces.

The presidential office explained that President Yoon’s visit to the Independent Support Center is part of his welfare for the vulnerable and field visits to the livelihood sites, aiming to personally hear voices from the field regarding the government’s independence support policies and to care for the youth. On the 29th of last month, President Yoon instructed his aides and related ministries to "take full responsibility as a nation and care for youth preparing for independence with a parental heart so that they can adapt to society," and to prepare related policies on their education, employment, and housing.

The Chungnam Independent Support Center visited by President Yoon is a model public-private cooperation case performing the "Hope Stepping Stone" project, which provides independent living facilities as housing spaces and supports daily life and career development for youth preparing for independence in cooperation with Samsung Electronics, the Community Chest of Korea, and others.

At the meeting, President Yoon expressed his heavy heart and infinite responsibility over recent heartbreaking incidents where youth from orphanages made extreme choices, and declared his determination that the state will embrace and support youth preparing for independence so that they do not feel alone.

While emphasizing the responsibility of the state, he also requested strengthened cooperation such as mentoring and consulting among the government, universities, religious communities, and businesses, noting that the effect can be greater when the government and private sectors join forces.

The meeting included representatives from Samsung Electronics, the Korea Religious Social Welfare Council, Cheongwoon University, and others, discussing support measures for youth preparing for independence in various fields.

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