Synopsis
A new 'Youth Settlement City Job Innovation Push Plan' led by Kim Donggeun focuses on improving youth employment and regional settlement support through integrated job creation strategies. The initiative emphasizes expanding quality local jobs, encouraging startups, and linking vocational training with industry demand. It also aims to reduce youth migration to major cities by strengthening economic opportunities and support systems in settlement-focused urban development zones.
Kim Donggeun has introduced a new policy vision titled the Youth Settlement City Uijeongbu Project, aimed at reversing the long-standing youth outflow problem in Uijeongbu. The initiative seeks to reposition the city as a sustainable urban center where young people can both work and live without needing to relocate to larger metropolitan hubs. He emphasized that addressing declining youth retention is essential to maintaining long-term urban economic vitality.
Uijeongbu, despite being a major residential city in the Seoul metropolitan area, has continued to experience a steady loss of younger residents due to limited access to high-quality employment opportunities. This ongoing employment imbalance has been widely identified as a structural issue affecting the region’s local economy sustainability and future growth potential. Kim argues that reversing this trend requires transforming the city into a competitive job creation hub rather than a purely residential area.
A central component of the proposal is the strategic use of land returned by the U.S. military, which Kim plans to redevelop into a base for high-tech industry attraction. The plan includes incentives to bring in innovative companies alongside a youth priority hiring system and structured employment quota policy designed to increase opportunities for local young job seekers. By linking corporate investment with youth employment guarantees, the proposal aims to create a more direct pathway between economic development and workforce integration.
The project also includes the creation of an AI innovation cluster, intended to serve as a foundation for startup incubation and digital entrepreneurship among young residents. Within this ecosystem, the plan emphasizes a broader startup support system that combines workspace access with mentoring programs and investment connections to improve business survival rates. Additionally, expanded corporate internship programs and job-oriented training are expected to strengthen skill alignment between education and real-world industry needs.
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Beyond employment, the policy framework also focuses on improving long-term youth housing stability through expanded public housing supply linked to the Uijeongbu Station Area Development Project (UBC). The initiative aims to introduce diverse affordable housing models to reduce financial burdens while integrating residential planning with job accessibility. Kim stated that combining housing-job integration policy will help transform the city into a place where young people not only find work but also choose to settle permanently.
The proposal further includes the use of existing public infrastructure such as music libraries, art libraries, and youth centers to expand cultural engagement spaces for creative and community activities. These facilities are intended to support youth cultural participation and strengthen social networks within the city. In addition, Kim proposed an action-oriented youth participation platform that would allow young residents to directly contribute to policy design, monitor implementation, and shape governance outcomes.
He concluded that expanding youth-centered governance policies will help reduce population decline, improve local entrepreneurship, and enhance the city’s ability to attract businesses and investment. According to Kim, strengthening youth settlement systems is directly linked to restoring economic vitality and long-term urban competitiveness. He stressed that transforming Uijeongbu into a future-ready youth city is essential for ensuring sustainable development and opportunity-driven growth.
