24 policy proposals across 6 fields, including education, culture and welfare

Songpa-gu District Mayor Seo Gang-seok. [Provided by Songpa-gu]
Songpa-gu District Mayor Seo Gang-seok. [Provided by Songpa-gu]

Songpa-gu in Seoul held a graduation ceremony for its 2026 Songpa Youth Policy Research Program on Oct. 21, the district announced Wednesday. Alongside the ceremony, it published a book titled "Youth Voices Become Songpa's Policies," 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 to translate everyday problems into concrete policy ideas, which they then developed into policy essays. The proposals spanned six fields: 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 lecture on overseas youth policies by travel YouTuber "Heecheolism," who has 1.2 million subscribers.

Notable proposals included a plan to strengthen no-smoking zone enforcement through QR-code reporting and Alert boundary guidance, titled "The Strong Belief That You Won't Get Caught"; a theater-based program called "Songpa Youth RE:PLAY" 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 Dodream," a project-based education program in which participants use AI technology to solve real problems in their local communities.

A total of 22 young participants completed the program at the Oct. 21 ceremony. The event included the presentation of completion certificates and commendations, along with presentations of standout policy proposals and participants' reflections.

A notable aspect of the initiative was the publication of participants' proposals as a single book. "Youth Voices Become Songpa's Policies" captures the everyday inconveniences the participants experienced firsthand, along with their ideas for addressing them. Graduates are listed as co-authors, preserving their contributions as both a personal record and a policy asset for the community. The book is currently available at online and offline bookstores.

The district plans to share the proposal book with relevant departments, review the feasibility and applicability of the ideas, and draw on them in future district administration and youth policy development.

"It is meaningful that young people took the inconveniences and concerns they feel in their daily lives, shaped them into policies on their own, and brought them 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 proposals, so that their fresh ideas and voices can be reflected in how the district is run."


cook@heraldcorp.com