Gyeonggi-do Supports At-Risk Youth to the Fingertips... Strengthening 1388 and Youth Safety Network

Gyeonggi-do Youth Special Support Project

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching various support projects to help adolescents maintain stable school life ahead of the new semester.

First, the province provides various subsidies to at-risk youth aged 9 to 24 who are experiencing social and economic difficulties. The 'Youth Hotline 1388' will also be activated to assist adolescents struggling with 'new semester syndrome.' In particular, psychological counseling is provided alongside scar removal for youths suffering from school violence wounds, self-harm, tattoos, and other distressing issues. The province operates 'Youth Safety Net Cheum,' a platform where these youth support projects can be accessed in one place.

◆ Various subsidies for at-risk youth aged 9 to 24

The province implements various support projects for at-risk youth aged 9 to 24 who lack guardians or do not receive effective protection from guardians and face social and economic hardships. Under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's 'Special Support for At-Risk Youth' program, Gyeonggi Province has secured the largest budget among 17 metropolitan local governments nationwide, amounting to 1.114 billion KRW, to support at-risk youth.

Representative support projects include living support (up to 650,000 KRW per month) for living expenses and academic support (up to 300,000 KRW per month) covering school tuition (up to 150,000 KRW per month), qualification exams, and academy fees. Additionally, various support services such as health support, independence support, counseling support, legal support, activity support, and other assistance are provided.

Youth from households with income and assets below 100% of the median income who are not receiving the same type of support under other systems or laws can apply. Applicants can visit their local eup/myeon/dong administrative welfare center in person or apply online through the 'Bokjiro' website. Detailed subsidy amounts and other information can be found on the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's website.

◆ 'New semester syndrome' addressed through Youth Hotline 1388

New semester syndrome refers to the mental and physical difficulties caused by stress that adolescents may experience while adapting to a new environment. The unfamiliar classroom, new friends, and increased academic workload can cause stomachaches or headaches in youths, and in severe cases, symptoms of depression or anxiety may appear.

From February to April last year, during the start of the new semester, Gyeonggi Province's 'Youth Hotline 1388' received 8,105 counseling cases related to stress from new environments, including academics, career paths, interpersonal relationships, depression, and anxiety.

Youths with 'new semester syndrome' may show signs such as sulking at home or oversleeping, making it difficult to attend school. In severe cases, this can lead to school refusal, so attention to adolescent adaptation at the beginning of the semester is important.

Youth Hotline 1388 is a counseling phone number for adolescents, providing help with school violence, running away from home, internet addiction, school and family life, and more. Counselors are on standby 24 hours a day to talk with youths who call and inform them of available support measures.

◆ Support for scar removal and psychological counseling for school violence wounds, self-harm, and tattoos

The province is supporting youths suffering from wounds, scars, or tattoos caused by school violence or self-harm. This project was proposed through resident participation budgeting and was first implemented last year. In its inaugural year, the province helped 33 youths with treatment costs for scar removal and psychological counseling.

Gyeonggi Province is providing psychological counseling alongside treatment for injuries related to school violence.

The treatment period varies depending on the size and type of the wound. Scars from violence such as cigarette burns usually require 3 to 5 sessions at intervals of 1 to 4 weeks, while self-harm scars need about 3 months of treatment.

The problem is that the treatment process involves significant pain, leading many to give up midway. Accordingly, the province assigns dedicated counselors to accompany patients to hospitals and provide psychological counseling during treatment.

The at-risk youth scar removal support project is open to youths aged 9 to 24 residing in the province. Selection of recipients is conducted by the Gyeonggi Youth Counseling and Welfare Center's case evaluation committee, considering the level of risk and treatment motivation.

For detailed information about the at-risk youth scar removal support project, inquiries can be made to the Gyeonggi Youth Counseling and Welfare Center (031-248-1318, extension 504).

This year, the province will also launch a new project for youth drug prevention education. This follows a report from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office indicating a sharp increase in youth drug offenders from 119 in 2017 to 450 in 2021.

◆ Province operates 'Cheum' youth-related support services

The province operates 'Youth Safety Net Comprehensive Information Network Cheum' (www.청소년안전망채움.com, cheum.hi1318.or.kr), which provides information on youth-related services all in one place.

Information is categorized into 15 areas such as economic support, psychological and emotional support, medical support, mental health, and school violence. Especially, the 'Our Neighborhood Youth Safety Net' feature allows quick identification of the nearest support institutions for immediate help.

Kim Hyang-sook, Director of Lifelong Education at the province, said, "Although various public systems are in place to support at-risk youth, many miss out on assistance simply because they are unaware. We will expand public roles and actively provide support to strengthen the youth safety net. If help is needed, please call 1388 anytime."

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