Kangwon Land signs MOUs with Samcheok, Taebaek and Yeongwol-gun to support vulnerable youth

Foundation expands eligibility beyond family-care youth to cover all vulnerable young people through regional youth centers

Kangwon Land, which runs a range of programs to revitalize the economy of coal-industry transition areas — including nurturing next-generation unicorn companies, supporting youth entrepreneurship and backing small business owners — is now turning its attention to identifying and supporting vulnerable young people in the region.

The Kangwon Land Social Contribution Foundation recently signed an MOU with the Gangwon Youth Center, Taebaek City Youth Center, Samcheok City Youth Center and the Yeongwol-gun Youth Project Team (Cheongjong Jidae) to support vulnerable youth in Gangwon Province's coal-industry transition areas.

The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Ik-rae, standing director of the foundation; Chae Hui-je, director of the Gangwon Youth Center; Lee Jin, team leader of the Samcheok City Youth Center; and Eom Dae-seop, head of the strategic industries division at Yeongwol-gun.

From left: Lee Jin, team leader of the Samcheok Youth Center; Eom Dae-seop, head of the strategic industries division at Yeongwol-gun; Kim Ik-rae, standing director of the foundation; Chae Hui-je, director of the Gangwon Youth Center; and Lee Seong-yeol, secretary general of the foundation [Kangwon Land Social Contribution Foundation]

The MOU aims to build a regional cooperation framework to identify vulnerable young people early and support their return to daily life and participation in society. The target group includes youth struggling with social isolation and withdrawal, family caregiving responsibilities, borderline intellectual disabilities, independent living preparation and financial vulnerability.

Drawing on its pilot run of a family-care youth capacity-building program last year, the foundation this year expanded eligibility to cover all vulnerable youth. It also plans to widen the eligible age range to 18 through 45 to reflect local conditions and establish a support model tailored to Gangwon Province's coal-industry transition areas in partnership with regional youth centers.

The program consists of three components: outreach to identify vulnerable youth through online and offline campaigns and information sessions; counseling and case management; and programs covering daily-life recovery, relationship building, personal growth and future planning, including financial and money-management education.

Participants will also receive up to 2 million won ($1,290) per person in self-care and personal development funds to help them rebuild their daily lives, foster personal growth and lay the groundwork for social participation.

"The challenges facing vulnerable youth go beyond individual hardship — they are issues the community must address together," Kim Ik-rae, standing director of the Kangwon Land Social Contribution Foundation, said. "Through cooperation with regional youth centers, we will work to identify young people in need early and support them in reconnecting with society in a healthy way."

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