'Broader World for Youth'...Supporting Self-Reliance of Youth Outside School and Home

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gapdong] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 21st that it will promote various policies this year for healthy growth, learning opportunities, and living stability for youth, encompassing school meals, learning, career guidance, and self-reliance support.

Through programs such as the Youth Ladder overseas training program and meal support for out-of-school youth, the province will reduce gaps caused by family circumstances or protective environments, and support youth outside the home in settling after leaving facilities through double matching savings accounts, self-reliance settlement funds, and self-reliance support allowances.

■ 'Youth Ladder' for Experiencing a Broader World

The Youth Ladder program provides overseas training and local experience opportunities to youth facing economic difficulties, including those on basic livelihood subsidies, within the legal middle-class bracket, and from single-parent households recognized by law, supporting career exploration and self-development.

The program first began in 2024 with support from lottery funds. Last year, 105 youth visited Vancouver, Canada and Brighton, United Kingdom, participating in native speaker debate classes and job mentoring. This year, 110 youth will be recruited through open application in March to April, and will embark on overseas training in Canada and other countries.

■ Expanding Global Experience, Supporting Domestic and International Youth Exchange

The province will promote exchange activities involving 175 youth through exchange programs with sister provinces including South Jeolla, North Jeolla, and Gwangju Metropolitan City, and will operate local cultural experience, school class participation, and historical and cultural heritage exploration programs for 110 youth from Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces in China. The province plans to recruit 55 youth this year to continue the exchange.

■ Guaranteeing Female Youth Health Rights, Expanding Gyeonggi-do Universal Menstrual Product Support for Female Youth

The universal menstrual product support project for female youth will expand from 24 cities and counties last year to 27 cities and counties (with Suwon, Yongin, and Paju newly participating) this year.

The support targets female youth aged 11 to 18 (born 2008-2015), providing menstrual product purchase costs of up to 168,000 won annually (14,000 won per month) in local currency. The support can be used at the Baedal Speedy app (female youth menstrual product exclusive mall) and local currency-affiliated convenience stores (CU, GS25, Seven Eleven, Emart24).

■ 'Pat Pat Financial Package Support' for Self-Reliance of Youth Outside the Home Upon Facility Exit

The province operates a 'Youth Facility Exit Financial Self-Reliance Package' to reduce economic burden and support stable social settlement for youth outside the home preparing for self-reliance after exiting youth welfare facilities.

For youth aged 15 to 24 outside the home, the province promotes a 'Double Matching Savings Account,' providing 2x matching on monthly savings of 10,000 to 100,000 won, supporting accumulation of up to 200,000 won per month and up to 6 years.

Additionally, youth who receive protection at youth shelters and youth self-reliance support centers and exit after turning 18 will receive self-reliance settlement funds and self-reliance support allowances. The self-reliance settlement fund is distributed in two installments totaling 10 million won, and the self-reliance support allowance provides 500,000 won per month for up to 5 years, supporting initial settlement and stable living.

■ Education and Living Equity Support for Out-of-School Youth

The province promotes closing the gap in education and living conditions so that out-of-school youth can receive learning and living support at the same level as enrolled students.

To reduce the burden of career and academic preparation for out-of-school youth and reduce gaps in test-taking opportunities, the province newly supports the application fee for the College Scholastic Ability Test mock assessment (June and September).

In addition, meal support for youth using out-of-school youth support centers will expand. The meal support unit price will increase from 10,000 won per meal to 12,000 won, and the support scale will also increase so that more out-of-school youth can benefit.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon said, "I want to provide many opportunities for youth. They need to try various things, experience failure, go through trial and error, and experience small successes to find what they want to do," and "There is nothing painful and difficult now for happiness later. I hope every day for Gyeonggi-do youth will be happy," explaining the background of youth policy promotion.