Gyeonggi Province to Host Asia's First Global Youth Employment Forum 'International Labor Festa'

Gyeonggi Province to Host 'Youth, Local Governments, and the Future of Work' on December 16-17
Interactive Global Event Featuring Dialogue with the Governor and the Global Youth Employment Forum

Gyeonggi Province announced on October 15 that, together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, it will host the '2025 International Labor Festa' at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 2 in Goyang on December 16 and 17, under the theme 'Youth, Local Governments, and the Future of Work.'

'2025 International Labor Festa' poster. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

This is the first time in Korea that a local government and the International Labour Organization are co-hosting such an event. The '3rd Global Youth Employment Forum (G.Y.E.F.)' organized by the International Labour Organization will also be held in Gyeonggi Province, marking its first occurrence in Asia. The Global Youth Employment Forum, previously held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2012 and Abuja, Nigeria in 2019, is being held for the third time. It is the largest international forum where young people and policymakers from around the world seek solutions to youth employment challenges.

This event is a follow-up to the 'MOU for Cooperation on Youth Employment and Labor Policy Development' signed between Gyeonggi Province and the International Labour Organization in June last year. Both organizations agreed to co-host the event in February this year.

The policy-focused forum on December 16 will take place under the main theme of 'Decent Work and the Role of Local Governments.' Domestic and international experts will gather to discuss the policy roles of local governments, youth employment strategies, and responses to changes in the labor market. Lee Sangheon, Director of the Employment Policy Department at the International Labour Organization, will deliver the first keynote and serve as chair. He is the first Korean to hold this position at the ILO headquarters and is recognized internationally for his expertise in youth employment, social protection, and labor market structural reform. Officials from overseas local governments, including Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom and Brandenburg in Germany, will also participate as key speakers.

The Global Youth Employment Forum on December 17 will bring together youth, local governments, and labor experts from around the world. The 'International Youth Group,' consisting of 100 young people-30 from Korea and 70 from overseas-will participate as presenters, panelists, and facilitators, offering sustainable job creation strategies and policy proposals from a youth perspective.

General attendees can participate by pre-registering on the International Labor Festa website (gg-ilofesta.kr or 경기도국제노동페스타.kr).

The event lobby will feature an exhibition introducing 'Gyeonggi Province and Global Labor Policy,' as well as booths and activities such as 'The Future of Work - Decent Work through Experience,' games, webtoons, VR safety experiences, tattoos, performances, and more.

Hong Seongho, Director of the Labor Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The International Labor Festa is a meaningful occasion where local governments and youth come together to shape the future of labor," adding, "We will continue to guarantee youth labor rights and work in solidarity with the international community to realize sustainable labor policies."

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