The South Korean government will invest 30 trillion won ($20.8 billion) this year in 389 tasks across five areas — jobs, education, housing, finance and participation — as part of its youth policy agenda.
According to related ministries on Saturday, the government announced the "2026 Central Administrative Agency Youth Policy" implementation plan at a joint meeting of the Youth Policy Coordination Committee and related ministers. The meeting was held the previous day at the Small and Medium Business DMC Tower in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
The government plans to significantly strengthen employment support this year to help so-called "resting youth" return to the labor market. The public and private sectors will jointly provide job experience opportunities for 45,000 young people, while the scope of allowances and eligibility for the National Employment Support Program will also be expanded.
Education support for nurturing talent in advanced industries and digital fields will also be expanded. The government plans to newly select and foster 10 AI-focused universities and 10 AI Transformation (AX) graduate schools, while also strengthening related vocational training programs.
In the housing sector, 67,000 homes will be supplied to young people through public sales and public rental housing. The government will also ease income criteria so that more young people can receive monthly rent support.
To expand youth participation in policymaking, a specialized committee composed of 60 young members will begin full operation under the Youth Policy Coordination Committee. The government also plans to gradually increase the proportion of young members appointed to various government committees.
The country's 17 metropolitan governments will also support young people. A total of 6.4 trillion won has been allocated to 1,563 projects this year to promote region-specific youth policies.
The meeting also discussed additional support measures for young people leaving protective facilities to live independently and for those relocating from the capital region to other parts of the country. The government plans to expand the independent settlement fund, which had been provided only in some regions, to the entire country to support initial settlement costs such as housing deposits and tuition.
The government will also reduce the document burden in applying for national scholarships and broaden the eligibility for student loan interest exemptions. Support measures for young people moving from the capital region to provincial areas will also be expanded in earnest.
"Young people seem to feel the impact of policies the least compared to other segments of our population," Prime Minister Kim said at the meeting. "We need to identify projects that are realistic and tangible." He also urged that "ministries and local governments should carefully push ahead so that the implementation plan can be connected to detailed project plans."
Kim also said, "We need to consider the governance issue of our youth policy," adding, "We must decide whether to create a ministry, department or agency dedicated to youth policy, or to establish it as a promotion agency or research institute."
