Gangnam-gu, Foundation Hansaram Team Up to Support Youth Aging Out of Care

Gangnam-gu signed an MOU with Foundation Hansaram on Monday to support young adults aging out of the care system as they work toward stable, independent lives.

"Youth preparing for independence" — called "jarib-junbi cheongnyeon" in Korean welfare policy — refers to young people raised in child welfare facilities or foster homes due to the absence or incapacity of a guardian, who must begin living on their own once state protection ends at age 18.

The agreement aims to strengthen tailored mentoring and emotional support systems so that these young adults can settle into society without becoming isolated.

The partnership between the district and a private foundation is expected to build a more comprehensive and sustainable support network.

Under the MOU, Gangnam-gu will assess demand for mentoring programs and connect participants with the necessary administrative and welfare services, while Foundation Hansaram will operate customized mentoring programs, form a mentor pool, and match mentors with mentees.

Gangnam-gu has been at the forefront of policies to help these young adults stand on their own. In 2023, it became the first autonomous district in Seoul to provide move-in supply subsidies and employment-success bonuses for youth aging out of care. The following year, it launched the nation's first "Gangnam-type independence housing" program, offering these young adults housing they can stay in for a year or more.

"Independence is not a lonely journey a young person must endure alone — it is a calling our society must shoulder together," Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki said. "We will continue to expand public-private cooperation and spare no effort in providing practical, warm support so that youth preparing for independence can take their rightful place as healthy members of society."