Seongbuk-gu launches youth mentoring program with local universities

Seoul's Seongbuk-gu announced Friday it is launching "Seongbuk Future Sharing School," a youth mentoring program developed in partnership with local universities to help close educational gaps for children and teenagers while building skills among college students.

The district has been running a range of college-preparation support programs for local youth. It recently hosted the "2026 Seongbuk College Admissions Fair," which drew 12 universities and provided students and parents with practical information on navigating a rapidly changing admissions landscape.

The new initiative draws on the district's concentration of educational resources, partnering with Korea University, Hansung University and the University of Seoul. Children and teenagers at community child centers in the district will be matched one-on-one or in groups of up to three with college student mentors, who will provide tailored academic support. The program also gives college students opportunities to explore career paths through connections with working professionals.

The program runs on two tracks: academic and emotional support, and professional mentoring. Under the first track, college mentors visit community child centers one to two times a week to provide basic academic instruction and supplementary tutoring for their mentees.

The professional mentoring track is designed to strengthen college students' readiness for the workforce. The district will connect student mentors with working professionals — referred to as "sunbae," or senior figures — from a range of fields, giving students access to advice on employment trends, job analysis and career planning.

"We expect this mentoring program, built on partnerships with outstanding universities, to give young people a chance to nurture their dreams while helping college students discover the value of service and develop the skills they will need for the future," Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro said.