Park Young-rim, a member of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, proportional representative), attended the 2026 Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Youth Policy Presentation Ceremony held on the 25th as a representative of the Provincial Assembly. There, she received policy proposals developed by youth and emphasized the need for continued interest and support to bring these policies to fruition.
This presentation ceremony was organized to share outstanding policies selected at the 2026 Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Youth Policy Proposal Contest, as well as policies identified directly by the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Youth Participation Committee, and to promote youth engagement in policy proposal activities.
A total of three winning entries from the Youth Policy Proposal Contest were announced: the “Zero Cultural Gaps” Project, “There Are No Wrong Doors,” the pilot operation of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Youth Rights Ombudsman, and “Guaranteeing Safe Mobility for Rural and Fishing Village Youth: Establishment of the ‘Dream Fulfillment-Pass.’”
The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Youth Participation Committee proposed five policies, including a system to disclose the replacement history of filters in school air purifiers and verify their maintenance, the establishment of a network connecting youth clubs dedicated to carbon neutrality, measures to promote the use of anonymous counseling services for youth, the establishment of an integrated career experience support center to strengthen youth career competencies, and the development and pilot operation of a Gangwon-style toolkit for education on social issue participation.
Assembly Member Park stated, “The policies proposed today are highly significant in that they are based on issues that youth have directly experienced in their daily lives, such as culture, rights, mobility, school environment, counseling, and career guidance.” “I highly commend the fact that these proposals go beyond merely pointing out inconveniences to offer concrete solutions on how to improve existing systems, and I will closely review them to ensure the proposed measures are translated into actual policies,” he said. He further remarked, “No one should be excluded from the rights and opportunities that everyone should enjoy simply because of differing circumstances, such as disability, transportation or regional conditions, or cultural background,” “Since the diverse experiences with culture, education, and social participation encountered during adolescence are important assets that enrich individuals’ lives and broaden their future possibilities, we must create conditions that allow young people to enjoy a variety of experiences regardless of their region or environment. The fact that many adolescents take an interest in and actively reflect on not only school and everyday issues but also their local communities, the environment, history, and various social issues is highly significant for the future of our society. I hope that more young people will not simply overlook the issues around them but will ask questions and seek solutions, and that an atmosphere fostering such interest and participation will naturally spread throughout schools and local communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the policy proposal submitted that day was delivered to the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Assembly, and the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education, where it will be reviewed by the respective competent authorities.
