"Youth Participate in Gyeonggi Province Government"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gapdong] Gyeonggi Province appointed members of the 25th 'Gyeonggi Youth Participation Committee' on the 6th at Suwon Youth Hostel.

The 'Gyeonggi Youth Participation Committee' has worked since 2000 to expand youth participation and promote the interests of youth in Gyeonggi Province, and serves to reflect youth opinions in Gyeonggi provincial policy by providing policy proposals and advisory roles. Members serve one-year terms, with approximately 50 people selected annually to participate in activities.

The 25th Youth Participation Committee this year publicly recruited youth aged 9 to 24 residing or attending school within Gyeonggi Province in February and selected 20 members. To ensure regional equity, youth representatives were recommended from each of the 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province, comprising a total of 51 members.

The committee plans extensive activities this year including △providing advisory input to Gyeonggi provincial government △participation in Gyeonggi Resident Participatory Budget Program △participation in Gyeonggi Citizens Policy Festival △'Youth Desired Local Policy' (Cheong-Ba-Ji) exchange camps (June, September) △Gyeonggi-South Jeolla exchange camp (July) △Gyeonggi-North Jeolla exchange camp (August).

Additionally, the province operates 'Cheongchulear' (http://youthstart.or.kr/), a Gyeonggi Youth Participation website, to allow any Gyeonggi youth to freely express opinions on youth policy and listen to youth voices.

Meanwhile, among the 24th Gyeonggi Youth Participation Committee members who have been active over the past year, commendations from the Gyeonggi Provincial Governor were awarded to 14 outstanding activity participants.

Award recipient and 19-year-old Committee Chair Jo Ye-eun shared her sentiments, stating, "It was one of the few precious opportunities for youth to actively participate as agents in society."

Park Geun-gyun, Director of Lifelong Education, said, "I hope that youth in Gyeonggi Province feel a sense of accomplishment by directly participating in provincial government affairs, voicing their opinions, and participating in the policy-making process."