Songpa-gu publishes youth policy proposal book born from 6 weeks of community research

Everyday concerns and ideas from young residents have been turned into policy proposals — and now a published book.

Songpa-gu in Seoul held a graduation ceremony for its 2026 Songpa Youth Policy Research Group on Oct. 21 and announced the publication of "Youth Voices, Songpa's Policies," a volume compiling 24 policy proposals developed directly by young participants.

The program, a revamped version of the former Youth Policy Academy, ran six sessions from September through October. Participants attended expert lectures and writing workshops, learning to translate everyday problems into concrete policy ideas and express them as policy essays.

The 24 proposals spanned six areas: education and growth, culture and relationships, welfare and daily life, lifestyle and safety, employment and career, and participation and exchange. The program also featured a special guest lecture on youth policies abroad by travel YouTuber "Heecheolism," who has 1.2 million subscribers, drawing an enthusiastic response.

Among the standout proposals were "The Strong Belief of Not Getting Caught," which aims to strengthen no-smoking zones through QR-code reporting and alert-based boundary guidance; "Songpa Youth RE:PLAY," a theater program to help young people explore their identities and build relationships; "Songpa Youth Restart Pass," designed to support young people considering a career change; and "Songpa AI Doodream," a project-based education program that uses AI technology to address real problems in the local community.

A total of 22 young residents completed the program at the Oct. 21 ceremony. The event included the presentation of completion certificates and commendations, showcases of standout policy proposals, and reflections from participants. Attendees also looked back on six weeks of work and marked the significance of publishing the proposal collection.

Particularly notable is that the participants' proposals were compiled into a single published book. "Youth Voices, Songpa's Policies" captures the everyday frustrations young residents experienced firsthand and the policy ideas they developed to address them. Graduates are listed as co-authors, leaving their ideas on record as both a personal achievement and a policy asset for the community. The book is now available at online and offline bookstores.

Songpa-gu plans to share the proposal collection with relevant departments, review the feasibility and application of each idea, and draw on them in future district administration and youth policy development.

This is not the first time Songpa-gu has worked to translate young residents' ideas into policy. The district has run the Youth Policy Academy — now rebranded as the Youth Policy Research Group — since 2023, steadily expanding opportunities for youth participation in policymaking. One notable outcome was a participant proposal for subsidies covering language exam and certification fees, which led to the enactment of a local ordinance and the launch of a support program.

"It is deeply meaningful that young people took the discomforts and concerns they experience in daily life, developed them into policy proposals on their own, and brought it all together in a single book," Songpa-gu District Mayor Seo Gang-seok said. "We will continue to expand opportunities for young people to participate directly and make their voices heard, so that their fresh ideas can be reflected in how the district is run."