Seoul policy panel hears directly from youth on AI opportunity initiative

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has gathered direct input from young residents as it works to build a "Youth AI Ladder" — an initiative aimed at giving youth equal access to AI tools — while also revitalizing the university districts that form the center of their daily lives.

The city held a youth policy forum Tuesday morning at Seoul City Hall, chaired by the G3 Seoul Planning Committee, it announced Wednesday. The forum centered on two pillars: the "Youth AI Ladder," designed to expand AI opportunities for young people, and a university district commercial revitalization initiative to support their everyday lives.

About 70 people attended, including Kim Byeong-min, co-chair of the G3 Seoul Planning Committee and former political vice mayor of Seoul, along with other committee members, student council presidents from Seoul universities and university officials.

The G3 Seoul Planning Committee is the city's top public-private partnership body, tasked with drawing up the blueprint for the ninth elected-term city administration. It discusses responses to Seoul's key challenges and translates them into concrete projects and action plans to be included in the "G3 Seoul Plan," set for release next month.

Under the first agenda item — the "Youth AI Ladder" — the city's youth policy office presented the initiative's background and detailed plans, after which university students and officials shared the difficulties they face in using AI and proposed the types of support they need.

AI proficiency has already become a core competency that determines success in academics, employment and entrepreneurship. More than 70 percent of people in their 20s and 30s have used generative AI — the highest rate of any age group — and seven in 10 companies factor applicants' AI skills into their hiring decisions.

In response, the city announced the "Youth AI Ladder" policy last month to broaden AI access for young people. Key components include subsidized generative AI subscriptions, the creation of "Seoul AI Lounges" in university districts, and an "AI Talent Growth Course" linking foundational skills to employment and startup opportunities.

Participants agreed that securing AI competency among youth is both an economic imperative — essential for talent development and urban competitiveness — and a social one, aimed at preventing an "AI divide" in which gaps in AI proficiency translate into widening inequality.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, at a meeting with young AI startup founders on Aug. 10, said, "Guaranteeing basic AI rights for youth goes beyond providing an equal starting line for all young people — it is the first step toward growing Seoul's AI technology ecosystem."

The second agenda item focused on revitalizing commercial districts around universities — exploring ways to transform those areas from mere consumption zones into living hubs where youth can pursue academics, find work, engage with culture and connect with one another.

The city plans to move forward with a project linking the human and physical resources of universities, along with young people's ideas, to local commercial districts. It aims to establish a standing collaboration framework among the city, universities and merchants, and to develop a sustainable cooperation model that goes beyond one-off events.

As a first step, the city will select commercial districts near universities from among existing local brand districts and alley-style shopping streets in the second half of this year for a pilot program.

Through the "Youth AI Ladder," the city aims to strengthen individual young people's future competitiveness, while the university district revitalization effort seeks to build a living ecosystem where youth can stay, connect and take on new challenges — creating a virtuous cycle of growth for youth, universities and local businesses alike.

"Youth growth opportunities and the vitality of university districts are at the heart of urban competitiveness," Kim said. "The 'Youth AI Ladder' and university district revitalization are policies designed to improve young people's growth prospects and quality of life."