Yoon: "Youth demands will be reflected 'properly' and 'quickly'"

President Yoon Holds Dialogue with Youth in Gangneung

President Yoon Suk-yeol met with young people from the Gangwon region on the 19th to listen to their demands and promised to "properly" and "quickly" reflect government policies so that the youth can truly feel the impact.

On the afternoon of the same day, President Yoon held a "Dialogue with Youth" with 15 local university students at a cafe run by a young entrepreneur in Gangneung City, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.

The cafe where the dialogue took place is operated by a young entrepreneur who graduated from Catholic Kwandong University. Last April, during the Gangneung wildfire, it was provided as a free coffee and rest area for firefighters.

The presidential office explained that President Yoon arranged this dialogue to directly hear and encourage the lives and concerns of young people through candid communication with students from local universities, including the National Gangneung-Wonju University and Catholic Kwandong University.

Therefore, instead of a formal meeting, the event was held in a relaxed manner, sharing coffee and casual conversation.

Before listening to the youth’s requests, President Yoon asked, "Is Gangneung-Wonju University located on the site of the old Gangneung University?" and "Many apartments have been built there."

He then reminisced, saying, "Did a lot of snow fall in Gangneung this year?" and "I remember when I was young, during winter vacation, visiting my maternal grandparents’ house, there was a tremendous amount of snow."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recalling his time working at the Gangneung branch office as a prosecutor, he said, "At the end of 1996 and the beginning of 1997, so much snow fell that the eaves above the front door of the official residence in Ponam-dong (Gangneung branch) were covered, making it difficult to open the door in the morning." He recalled that the owner of a nearby restaurant cleared a path back and forth in the yard with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, allowing him to get out. Students burst into laughter at President Yoon’s snow story.

President Yoon also said, "The government is making various efforts to revive the local economy and empower young people in the region, but it may feel insufficient on the ground," adding, "I will listen carefully to the vivid stories of the youth and return."

In response, the young people expressed diverse opinions on topics such as ▲ school life, ▲ career paths, employment and entrepreneurship, ▲ student loans and housing/living support, and ▲ development of the local community and universities.

President Yoon repeatedly emphasized, "I will spare no interest or support so that young people can freely challenge themselves and see their efforts bear fruit."

Meanwhile, the event was attended by Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, and aides from the presidential office.

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