Seongdong-gu launches 'Youth Mind: ON,' a five-stage culture and arts program to help isolated youth recover emotionally and build social connections, with applications open through June 21
Seoul's Seongdong-gu district said it will run a program called "Seongdong Youth Mind: ON" to support young residents experiencing loneliness and isolation, helping them recover emotionally and build social networks.
The rise of single-person households, anxiety over employment and career prospects, severed personal relationships and psychological withdrawal have all contributed to growing isolation among young people.
In response, Seongdong-gu designed the program to offer culture and arts-based activities that allow youth to express their emotions naturally and connect with peers who share similar experiences — all in a low-pressure setting.
The program is open to residents of Seongdong-gu between the ages of 19 and 39 who are at risk of loneliness or isolation, or who need emotional recovery and help forming relationships.
Organized around the theme "Healing Hearts Through Empathy," the program runs from June through November in five stages: a picture book workshop, a writing group called "Writing-Heart Friends," an inner-feelings walk, an art workshop and a closing knot-tying party.
The first stage, the picture book workshop, takes place June 24 at Heyground Seongsu Starting Point, where participants will explore their inner feelings through characters in picture books and share emotions that are often difficult to express, in a safe and supportive atmosphere. The second stage, "Writing-Heart Friends," runs every Thursday from July 16 through Aug. 13 — five sessions in total — helping participants organize their thoughts and feelings through writing and sharing activities while building empathy and encouragement among one another.
The third stage, the inner-feelings walk, is scheduled for Sept. 10 at Heyground Seongsu Starting Point and the Seoul Forest area, where each participant is paired one-on-one with a healing facilitator for a walk and conversation through Seoul Forest, building positive interpersonal experience through natural interaction. The fourth stage, the art workshop, runs across three sessions on Oct. 14, 21 and 28, using painting, color and form to help participants freely express emotions that are hard to put into words, supporting self-understanding and the restoration of self-esteem.
The fifth and final stage, the knot-tying party on Nov. 4, closes out the full program with a gathering where participants share their experiences and the changes they have undergone, and cheer one another on. The district said it will provide ongoing support to ensure that the bonds formed among participants extend beyond one-time meetings into lasting social networks.
Youth wishing to take part may apply through June 21 by scanning the QR code in the program announcement. Participation in individual stages is also available. For more information, contact the program operator, the nonprofit Gongam, via KakaoTalk or by phone.
"Youth isolation is a problem that does not show itself easily on the surface, which is why it requires especially careful attention and support," a district official said. "We hope this program becomes a starting point for young people to take care of their own wellbeing and build new relationships within the community."
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