Seoul's Yongsan-gu district office held an orientation Monday morning for its "2026 Summer College Student and Youth Part-Time Program," welcoming 40 participants who will spend their summer break gaining hands-on experience in local government administration.
The session, held at 10 a.m. in the district office's main conference room, walked participants through work rules and conduct guidelines to help them settle into their roles. Officials also introduced key youth support policies, including job placement programs, subsidies for national certification exams and language tests, and financial and real estate education courses. Participants headed to their assigned workplaces immediately after the orientation. They will work five days a week, five hours a day, from Monday through July 31 — a total of four weeks.
Placements span nine departments within the district office, 14 community service centers, Hannam Play and the Yongsan Youth Center under the Yongsan Facilities Management Corporation, and the Yongsan Culture Foundation. Participants will assist with administrative and welfare tasks and guide residents with inquiries at their respective sites.
The summer program drew 177 applicants, a competition ratio of roughly 5 to 1. Selection was conducted electronically in the presence of one registered observer. The cohort includes two international students from Vietnam.
Participants will be paid at Yongsan-gu's living wage rate of 60,605 won ($39) per day, with a full-attendance payout of 1.45 million won over the four weeks.
"You are beginning a new experience at Yongsan-gu district office, and I myself am starting fresh as district mayor — so it feels especially meaningful that we are taking our first steps at around the same time," district Mayor Kim Gyeong-dae said. "I hope this program gives you a firsthand look at how public administration works, brings you closer to the kind of governance that serves residents, and helps you think about your future path." He added that the district would continue to roll out a range of policies and projects to help young people explore careers and prepare for the future.
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