Gangnam-gu, Support for Youth Preparing for Independence Is on a Different Level?

Gangnam-gu, First Autonomous District to Provide Niche Support for Youth Preparing for Independence... Up to 31 Million KRW Provided

Support of 2 Million KRW for Moving-in Supplies for Those Who Have Lived in Gangnam-gu for More Than 3 Months or Are Scheduled to Leave Facilities Within the District

Employment Success Congratulatory Payment of 1 Million KRW for Youth Who Secure Jobs or Start Businesses and Maintain Employment for Over 6 Months in Gangnam-gu

"When a child leaves the facility, it feels like sending them off in marriage. I want to buy at least a refrigerator... but the facility teachers barely managed to gather enough to buy a bed."

- From a teacher at a child care facility in Gangnam-gu

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) has allocated an additional budget of 140 million KRW this year for a new project and started niche support for youth preparing for independence who have completed protective care in facilities or foster families from July.

Youth preparing for independence refers to young people who have been under protection in child and youth welfare facilities or foster families but have reached a certain age and their protective care has ended or who have left the facilities. Although national and city subsidies are provided for settlement funds and housing rent to support their independence, youth settling in Gangnam-gu for studies or jobs face a heavy economic burden due to high rent and living costs in Gangnam-gu.

Accordingly, the district is the first autonomous district in Seoul to proactively support moving-in supplies and employment success congratulatory payments for youth preparing for independence. Those who start their first settlement in Gangnam-gu and live there for more than 3 months, as well as prospective youth preparing for independence scheduled to leave facilities within the district, will receive a one-time actual expense payment of 2 million KRW for moving-in supplies. Additionally, youth who secure employment or start a business in Gangnam-gu and maintain employment or business operations for over 6 months will receive a congratulatory payment of 1 million KRW.

Furthermore, for up to 5 years after protective care ends, youth preparing for independence and prospective youth preparing for independence will receive actual expense payments up to 2 million KRW annually for academy fees used for language studies, certifications, or civil service exams.

Along with this, to help stabilize their lives, an additional monthly independence allowance of 200,000 KRW will be provided.

To alleviate psychological burdens experienced during the independence process, 1:1 counseling is offered at the Gangnam-gu Youth Counseling Welfare Center, and if necessary, mental health treatment costs up to 100,000 KRW per month for a maximum of 5 years will be supported. Also, child protection officers provide one-stop services to assist with applications for settlement support services and offer counseling on housing settlement and daily life issues.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, "Gangnam-gu will support youth preparing for independence as they take their first steps into adulthood and society. We will carefully examine and support the necessary areas so that they can stand together as healthy members of society."

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