Busan City set a goal of 2022 as “Busan City, where young people settled” they subdivided the goals into four parts, getting jobs, habitation, cultural activities, and rights to participation, and they also established 19 new projects. Some of the policies are reorganized, and some of the policies are newly created. While young people are having a hard time due to COVID19, Busan reorganized youth politics to give them help. 

1. Getting Jobs

These days, getting jobs is the most insoluble problem for the youths. Therefore, Busan made many different policies to solve this problem. From the policies, the policy that gets more attention is the new platform called “Youth Busan Jobs.” On this platform, young people can find all the information about youth job businesses easily. In addition, another business called “Industry-University Linked Field Practice Bridge” is now managing. Also, “Busan Digital Innovation Academy” and “Company attracts Youth” provide benefits to both youths and companies. 

2. Habitation

According to the “2021 Youth Policy White Paper” republished February 16th by the Office of Government Policy Coordination, the time for first-time housing purchase for youths increased from 6.7 years in 2017 to 7.6 years in 2020, and the age increased from 36.2 years to 37.1 years. This situation shows that many youths have a hard time purchasing their own habitations. Therefore, Busan city prepared various businesses for youths. It supports monthly rent, monthly rent brokerage fees, and interest on the rental deposit and gives information related to housing that can be obtained from the Housing Welfare Center. Moreover, a new “Youth Credit Recovery Support Project” will be launched to provide professional financial advice to young people who are struggling with debt.

3. Cultural Activities

Busan City is planning to form a network of relationships through various activities such as a cultural foundation where youths can realize their dreams, to support the revitalization of youth communities, and to operate neighborhood youth spaces. Firstly, “Youth Cultural Street 1000” builds Busan’s youth cultural areas and boosts cultural festivals. Next, through incubating and career development supporting the growth of young artists, it will nurture professional artists of the next generation who will lead the local culture, and the youth school will be expanded and operate 16 departments. To solve the fear of the future of youths, 1:1 counseling (mind care project) is provided too. 

4. Rights to Participation

Busan made a new policy for more political participation of the young generation. The ”Youth Panel 3000” will prepare a new governance system, so that young people can feel the change through a sample survey. Opening ”Busan Youth New Media Channel” is another way that Busan is trying. Its purpose is to listen to youth’s opinions and to have conversations with them. If you are interested in Busan policies or projects, it will be a good chance for you to participate as a youth committee member. 

Geumjung-gu’s Youth Policies of 2022

Geumjung-gu, where PNU is located, is also undertaking various youth policies.

Firstly, the ”Youth-connect” project propels youth governance revitalization projects suitable for corporations and organizations with experience in operating youth-related projects in Busan.

Next, the “Chung-Jin-Ki (Youth, Design a Real One)” project gives opportunities to conduct SME-type business strategic planning activities, And it is open to everyone based in Busan and who can participate in off-line meetings once a week. It will be an excellent chance for those interested in strategic planning work. 

Lastly, “Dok-Han Youth Project” supports book-related things for youths, such as long-term book loans, library immediate volunteer work, book exhibitions, and more. The period for this project runs from January to December, so it is going to be very useful for young people in Busan who are interested in books.

By Lee Yoon-Seo, Desk Editor & Kim Hyun-Kyong, Reporter

Translated by Yun Chae-Eun, Reporter