Gwanak-gu, which bills itself as the "youth capital of South Korea" with the country's highest share of young residents at 41 percent, has appointed a new youth mayor to channel the voices of that demographic directly into district governance.
The district appointed Ryu Seong-hyeon as the fourth Gwanak Youth Mayor on Tuesday, tasking him with representing young residents and driving the development of youth policy — a move the district said is designed to let the concerns of an increasingly hard-pressed generation permeate every level of local administration.
The fourth Gwanak Youth Mayor is expected to serve as the central figure in what the district is calling a "policy transformation" — one in which young people themselves decide and lead on policy and budget matters.
To support autonomous operation of the Gwanak Youth Office, the district also designates the chair of the youth-elected operations committee as an honorary Gwanak Youth Mayor. The arrangement is tied to the "Gwanak Youth Office advancement" campaign pledge — a key commitment of the ninth elected-term administration — and is intended to serve as the cornerstone of youth self-governance.
"I will communicate actively with the operations committee and with young residents so that their diverse voices translate into real change, and I will build a Gwanak Youth Office that is truly youth-led," Ryu said at the appointment ceremony.
The district also plans to significantly expand the authority of the operations committee, moving beyond its previous advisory and deliberative role to give young people direct decision-making power over youth policy and project direction. Each year in the first half, a "youth autonomous budget program" will allow young residents to identify, deliberate on and approve project agendas themselves, giving practical effect to the principle of youth self-governance.
At the center of these activities is the Gwanak Youth Office, the largest youth facility operated independently by a Seoul autonomous district, spanning one below-ground floor and seven above-ground floors with a total floor area of 1,528.86 square meters. Since opening in April 2023, the facility has logged a cumulative 280,000 visitors and serves as a comprehensive youth activity hub offering support across community building, counseling, employment readiness, culture and the arts, and entrepreneurship. Gwanak-gu, which boasts the country's highest youth population share at 41.7 percent, has used the facility as the foundation for building its identity as a "youth-friendly city."
To advance the Gwanak Youth Office, the district plans to focus on a phased, tailored support system that addresses young residents' lives in detail — going beyond simple employment assistance to offer a sequential program spanning mental health support, daily-life recovery, career exploration and job placement.
The district also plans to cultivate field-specific youth leader groups through the Gwanak Youth Office and to strengthen its role as a youth arts and culture platform by running a residency program and pop-up store where young artists can exhibit and sell their work.
Extended operating hours will allow working young adults and job seekers to use the facility freely after work, maximizing convenience and making better use of the space.
"The Gwanak Youth Office is a cradle of 'youth democracy,' where young people propose and decide policy for themselves," Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee said. "By appointing the fourth Gwanak Youth Mayor and granting the operations committee real authority, we will complete our vision of Gwanak as the youth capital of South Korea — a district where young people are the true owners."
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