Applications open through June 12 for individuals or teams; theme is 'policies for youth growth and development'
Expert consulting provided; top proposals to be adopted as district policy — grand prize of 1 million won ($673) per team, with a total purse of 2.1 million won ($1,410)
Yangcheon District Office is holding the 2026 Youth Policy Competition, an initiative to surface innovative policy ideas from young residents and adopt the best proposals as actual district policy.
This year's competition centers on the theme of "policy ideas for youth growth and development."
The district is accepting applications through June 12 from individuals or teams of up to five people. Applicants may choose one of five core policy areas: employment, economy and residential affairs, culture and welfare, education, and civic participation.
Eligibility is open to residents or active participants in Yangcheon District between the ages of 19 and 39. Veterans who have completed mandatory military service may have the upper age limit extended by up to three years. Applications can be submitted by downloading the form from the "Notices and Announcements" section of the Yangcheon District Office website and sending it by email.
Submitted proposals will be reviewed by relevant district departments, and five finalists will be selected to advance. Each finalist team will receive one-on-one consulting from a policy expert to refine their proposal before competing in the final round — the "Youth Policy Battle" — scheduled for October.
The final round will be conducted through policy proposal presentations and debates, with entries judged on policy effectiveness, creativity and feasibility. The grand prize winner receives 1 million won ($673), the excellence award winner receives 500,000 won ($337), and three merit award winners each receive 200,000 won ($135), along with certificates of recognition.
Top proposals identified through the competition will be given priority consideration in the district's policy planning process and developed into actual projects through follow-up steps including budget allocation.
Since its inaugural edition last year, the Yangcheon Youth Policy Competition has established itself as a participatory platform connecting young people's ideas to real policy.
Three proposals recognized last year have already been adopted as new district projects this year. They include "Sinwol, One Cup of Culture," a program to revitalize the youth community in Sinwol-dong; "Yangcheon Youth Pop-Up Day," which supports young entrepreneurs and artists in finding new markets; and "Together Yangcheon Kit," designed to help young single-person households newly relocated to the district settle into the community.
Beyond the competition, the district plans to strengthen youth participation through initiatives such as a youth network and a youth policy committee, with the aim of delivering policies that young residents can tangibly feel.
"This is an opportunity for young people to participate not merely as the subjects of policy, but as the ones who propose and realize it themselves — we hope to see wide interest and involvement," a district official said. "We will continue to actively support young people's ideas so they can be institutionalized and put into practice."
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