Eight youth-sourced policy proposals presented Thursday at the district office's planning situation room during the Youth Network Policy Proposal Contest
A proposal called "Our Neighborhood Life Records" took the top prize at a youth policy idea contest organized by Gwangjin-gu, earning high marks particularly for its problem analysis and feasibility.
The excellence award went to "Gwangjin-gu Youth Hobby Settlement Project," while the encouragement award went to "Gwangjin-gu Solo Living Master Class."
The Youth Network Policy Proposal Contest was held Thursday at Gwangjin-gu District Office's planning situation room, where participants pitched lifestyle-oriented ideas spanning employment, housing, culture, the environment, safety and intergenerational exchange.
The Youth Network is a participatory body through which local young residents discuss everyday problems and propose policies. Formed in May with about 30 members, it has operated across four subcommittees covering education and culture, employment and the economy, low birth rate and aging, and housing and health.
Members presented eight policies developed across the four subcommittees. A large share of the proposals focused on supporting the growing number of young single-person households and expanding opportunities for social connection.
The education and culture subcommittee proposed "Gwangjin Mate," a program to help young residents meet one another, and "Gwangjin-gu Youth Hobby Settlement Project," designed to facilitate hobby experiences and small group activities.
The employment and economy subcommittee introduced "Gwangjin Job Lounge on the Go," which combines a job fair with conversations with working professionals, and "Gwangjin Youth Plogging Project," which links environmental cleanup with neighborhood tours and visits to local commercial districts.
The low birth rate and aging subcommittee presented "Gwangjin Children's Safety Patrol," in which guardians and children identify and address safety hazards in their surroundings, and "Our Neighborhood Life Records," which helps young residents and senior citizens co-create AI-assisted autobiographies.
The housing and health subcommittee proposed "Gwangjin-gu Solo Living Master Class," which provides young single-person households with practical life-skills education and access to repair tools, and "Gwangjin Book Bus," a shuttle service connecting youth facilities and libraries.
Fourteen members of the Youth Policy Committee served as judges, evaluating entries across five criteria — problem analysis, creativity, feasibility, presentation and effort — to select one winner in each of the top, excellence and encouragement categories.
Following the contest, the Youth Network plans to wrap up its year at a year-end achievement-sharing event in December.
Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said the event was meaningful because young residents had taken their everyday concerns and developed them into concrete policy proposals. "We will keep communicating so that the diverse voices of youth are reflected in district administration, and we will continue to expand opportunities for participation," Kim said.
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