The "Youth Allowance Community Day," where young people sit down with peers who have navigated similar career struggles, is once again gearing up to reach youth in need of guidance this year.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on June 6 that it held an orientation and training session on June 4 at the Seoul Metropolitan Youth Center for 100 senior youth mentors who previously participated in the Youth Allowance program and will serve as mentors for this year's Community Day.
The Youth Allowance is a program for unemployed or short-term employed youth aged 19 to 34 residing in Seoul. It provides activity support payments of 500,000 won per month for up to six months, along with programs to help with career exploration and job-seeking activities. The Community Day event was designed so that young people with experience in the Youth Allowance program can serve as mentors to help their peers grow, drawing on their own growth journeys.
The Community Day held by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in October last year received favorable reviews from participants. One participant, identified as Youth A, met Youth B, who had used the Youth Allowance as a springboard to land a job in sales management. Youth A received tips on writing cover letters and interview strategies and found the courage to try again. "The realistic advice and emotional empathy from a senior who had been through the same process was the greatest driving force," Youth A said.
Other testimonials followed, including "I received great comfort from the candid stories of seniors who had already passed through the dark tunnel" and "I gained strength by connecting with peers who are also thinking about their growth." The Seoul Metropolitan Government believes these responses confirmed the effectiveness of peer mentoring.
Accordingly, Seoul significantly expanded the mentor pool this year from eight to more than 100. Seniors who participated in the Youth Allowance between 2017 and 2025 and have since gained employment or started businesses will serve as mentors, sharing experiences on cover letter writing, interview strategies, and career planning while providing motivation and emotional support to their juniors.
The orientation session held that day featured expert lectures covering the roles and attitudes required of mentors and effective communication methods. Later this month, the program will continue with professional profile photo sessions led by a professional photographer and networking programs among senior mentors. The trained mentors will participate in the Youth Allowance Community Day events held twice — in July and October — conducting a total of two mentoring sessions each and receiving a modest stipend for their activities.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to continue expanding Community Day so that the Youth Allowance becomes a "chain of growth" where seniors' experiences are passed on to juniors. The city also plans to develop various growth support programs, including short-term workshops, multi-session mentoring, integrated counseling services, and corporate visits.
"The Youth Allowance Community Day is a meaningful program where young people who participated in the Youth Allowance first share their growth experiences with younger participants," said Kim Cheol-hui, Director of Future Youth Planning at the Seoul Metropolitan Government. "We will continue to introduce various programs so that young people can transition from being recipients of support to becoming key partners in the city's future competitiveness."