Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin emphasized on September 7 that "the fairness of youth policies should not be judged solely by providing the same amount to a specific age group, but rather by expanding opportunities for all young people."
During the 312th Seongnam City Council's extraordinary session, Mayor Shin announced his intention to request a re-vote on the youth basic income ordinance that was recently passed.
He believes that supporting the entire youth population aged 19 to 39 in areas such as employment, entrepreneurship, housing, education, and welfare is a more effective approach to preparing for the future than providing uniform cash payments to a specific age group.
The ordinance primarily proposes to provide 1 million won in local currency annually to 24-year-olds.
Mayor Shin estimates that implementing this plan would cost approximately 8.5 billion won annually, with about 6 billion won expected to be borne by Seongnam City.
He argues that instead of distributing limited resources equally to a specific age group, the focus should be on broadening opportunities for independence and growth tailored to the individual circumstances and needs of each young person.
To this end, Mayor Shin believes it is necessary to reassess the policy effectiveness of the youth basic income. According to an analysis of the "Gyeonggi Province Youth Basic Income Policy Effects" conducted in 2021, 73.1% of the funds were spent on food, while only 11.2% was allocated for self-development.
"Based on this, we need to shift resources from short-term consumption support to policies that enhance youth capabilities and promote sustainable independence," he explained.
Mayor Shin emphasizes the need for tailored policies because the demand from young people is focused on practical living issues such as employment and housing.
Since the abolition of the youth basic income in 2023, he has expanded various initiatives, including the 'ALL-Pass' program for unemployed youth, support for small business startups, assistance with rent and moving costs for employed youth, youth hope internships, and funding for young entrepreneurs. In 2026, approximately 11.89 billion won has been allocated for direct support programs aimed at enhancing youth capabilities and independence.
Notably, the ALL-Pass program has shown high effectiveness, with participant satisfaction at 90.4%, economic burden relief at 91.1%, and increased trust in Seongnam's youth policies at 88.4%.
Young residents have also expressed a preference for support in areas they actually need rather than uniform cash payments. One Seongnam resident stated, "Preparing for employment involves significant costs, including certification, education, transportation, and housing. Direct support for employment or housing for those in need seems more practical than providing the same amount to all 24-year-olds."
Citizens have raised concerns about how to prioritize limited local finances. One citizen remarked, "There is no disagreement on the need to support youth, but the budget is limited. It seems more effective in the long run to invest continuously in programs that help young people secure employment and settle down rather than providing one-time support."
The financial burden is also a key reason behind Mayor Shin's request for a re-vote. Due to changes in Gyeonggi Province's financial conditions, the funding ratio for the youth basic income will shift from 70% provincial and 30% city to 30% provincial and 70% city starting in 2027.
As a result, if Seongnam City implements the youth basic income, the city's financial burden is expected to be around 6 billion won annually by 2027.
Mayor Shin believes it would be more efficient to use these funds to strengthen the independence of youth through support for employment, entrepreneurship, and housing stability. He plans to alleviate the housing cost burden for young professionals and support their stable entry into society through initiatives that require a budget similar to the city's financial burden for the youth basic income.
Mayor Shin prioritizes policies that provide real opportunities for youth over those that offer equal benefits to all. He intends to continue expanding tailored support in areas such as employment, entrepreneurship, housing, education, and welfare, reflecting the life tasks and policy demands of young people.
Meanwhile, the ordinance that has been requested for re-vote will be reconsidered by the Seongnam City Council, requiring a majority of council members to be present and a two-thirds majority of those present to be approved; otherwise, it will be discarded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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