The Future of the Youth Built with the Hands of the Youth: 2023 Youth Day

Korea’s youth in their thirties, who form the foundation of society, are working diligently to build a better future for Korea. However, youth awareness and rights are comparatively weaker compared to the older generations. To address this disparity, in 2020, Korea designated the third Saturday of September as ‘Youth Day,’ a legal holiday aimed at raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding youth rights, promoting the development of young Koreans, and increasing interest in youth issues. This initiative is an indicator of Korea’s heightened awareness of the importance of its youth and their rights. This year, the 7th Youth Day Festival was held on September 16th at Yeouido Park in Seoul.

The festival featured an array of engaging events, including the [Youth Day Concert], the [2023 Creator Festival], the [Korea Youth Day Flash Mob], an [Overseas Youth Quiz Competition], a [Youth Housing Talk Concert], an [F&B Festival], a [Beauty Healing Zone], the [Korea Youth Day Commemoration Ceremony], the [8th Youth Policy Competition], the [2023 Youth-Friendly Dedication Awards], the [2023 Youth Startup Awards], the [2023 Social Contribution and Merit Awards], the [2023 Youth-Friendly Business Certification Ceremony], [Career and Education Counseling], and the [4th Industrial Revolution Job and Startup Festival]. Moreover, public agencies and companies set up promotional booths, and there was a wide range of flea markets for all to enjoy. Programs like the Career and Education Counseling sessions and the 4th IR Job and Startup Festival were specifically organized to address the challenges faced by young people when it comes to employment and further education. These sessions provided valuable insights into aspects like writing and improving resumes and cover letters. The 4th IR Job and Startup Festival provided young Koreans with a roadmap for their future endeavors. The Youth Day programs were organized with the aspiration to help young Koreans expand their dreams and pursue a sustainable future. Song Han-sol, the Press Secretary, said, “As we were thinking about what we could do for our fellow Korean youth, we decided that we wanted the event to send the following message: 'the youth have a voice, and we will show the world what young Koreans are capable of achieving.' Our primary objective was to put youth first.”

The 7th Youth Day event commenced with the 'Youth With Us Flash Mob Challenge' to show support for Busan's World Expo bid. Following this was the 'Overseas Youth Quiz Competition.' The festivities culminated with the 'Youth Cheerleading Championship,' where young Koreans could freely showcase their talents and aspirations. Next was the Youth Declaration, which gathered the opinions of all Korean youth to convey the demands and aspirations of young Koreans to the government, National Assembly, and public authorities. The declaration included a message about enhancing Korea's global standing and promoting social development by securing Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030 and pioneering an ESG culture. Also included in the declaration were demands for the establishment and prompt implementation of a comprehensive plan to benefit young Koreans and regulatory innovations to establish Korea as a startup paradise. Kim Gi-eun and Woo Han-na, who recited the Youth Declaration, said, "Our youth will continue to exert every effort to pioneer the future without losing hope. If society can place its trust in its youth, we will do our utmost to contribute to Korea's growth. We ask society to lend its support so that there can be a smile on the face of every young Korean."

The [Youth Policy Competition] attracted much attention as it provided a stage on which young Koreans could voice their opinions on 'employment/labor/job/industrial safety policies,' and 'family·youth·gender equality·digital crime response policies.' The winner of the competition, Mr. Kim Young-jun, proposed a new policy platform for the middle-aged workforce. His policy suggested that the valuable experience of middle-aged Koreans could be harnessed as a significant social resource. This would be achieved by filling the knowledge and experience gap of young Koreans through mentoring and guidance provided by retirees. The Youth Policy Competition encouraged young Koreans to engage in politics and policies by having them diagnose social problems and present their policy solutions firsthand. This was a meaningful program that gave young Koreans the opportunity to voice their opinions and consider solutions to the reality they are facing. When asked about his thoughts on opportunities for young Koreans to express their viewpoints, Mr. Kim Young-jun commented, "Young people offer distinct perspectives on societal problems, and their solutions may be unlike those suggested by the older generations. Over time, these contributions can undoubtedly help society change in a meaningful way that can benefit the youth." He went on to say, "I want to encourage young people to actively seek out opportunities where they can discuss societal issues and potential solutions and share their unique perspectives and creative ideas. Engaging in events like the Youth Policy Competition can be a valuable experience." Experts from various sectors of society paid close attention to the opinions offered by young individuals, and efforts are underway to collaborate with the National Assembly to transform these policy proposals into legislation.

The Youth Day was especially significant given that young Koreans took the lead in planning and organizing the event themselves. During this year's Youth Day event, approximately 2,000 young individuals from across the country came together to undertake the planning, operation, filming, promotion, content creation, and various other tasks for the event. Throughout this process, they identified and resolved issues on their own, providing a platform for further growth. This illustrates how young people possess the ability and determination to make a difference. Young Koreans are actively contributing to shaping a better future for Korea, much like the generations before them who built and safeguarded the nation. The younger generation is committed to forging a new Korea, one distinctly different from the present reality. Currently, the youth grapple with a challenging world passed down from previous generations. It is essential to break the cycle of passing on burdens to the next generation to ensure a brighter future for Korea. Jeong Hyeong-gon, the CEO of Youth & Future, expressed his thoughts on the impact of young people: "The dream we first envisioned seven years ago is becoming a reality. The Youth Day event is just the beginning – I believe this ripple effect will grow larger from this point onward, creating a better world for Korea’s youth." Youth-led events are instrumental in advancing youth rights and changing people’s perceptions. Press Secretary hopes the Youth Day event will have a positive influence on young people’s self-esteem and society’s perception of them, stating, "There are instances where young people underestimate their potential. When a large-scale event like this is placed in the hands of a group of young individuals, we can expect to run into some hiccups here and there, but overall, things went quite smoothly and successfully. I hope other young Koreans can see this achievement and think, 'young people can get things done after all,' and 'the organizers are about my age, so I guess I can do it too.'" added, "Through these events, we aim to improve society’s perceptions of the youth, fostering the realization that young Koreans are capable of making a difference, voicing their opinions, and playing a significant role in society."

The Youth Day event has evolved beyond a mere celebration in support of the youth. It has become a platform for presenting the vision and priorities of this era, with young individuals taking the lead. The voices raised during the Youth Day event were heard by society, directly or indirectly. Young people represent not just the promising seeds of the next generation, but also the backbone of society. Their diverse experiences will serve as nourishment for their growth. As they mature, these young individuals will facilitate a healthy generational transition, becoming integral members of a prosperous society. remarked, "As long as young people believe in themselves and gradually work toward achievable goals, sooner or later, we will find ourselves in a time where the youth are the leaders of Korea, pioneering the country forward." also added, "I hope that young people will not be afraid of making mistakes and will use the time they are given to embark on numerous challenges with courage."