Youth Policy Leaders Gather as Youth Day Awards Recognize Achievements

Park Dong-seok, president of iNews24, delivers remarks at the event. Photo: Kwak Young-rae / iNews24.

[iNews24 reporter Kim Min-ji] Local governments and organizations and individuals involved in social contribution that have pursued youth policies, along with startups and young people who proposed policy ideas, gathered at the National Assembly on the 9th.

The appointment and awards ceremony for the organizing committee of the 10th Korea Youth Day 2026 was held that afternoon in the Grand Conference Room of the National Assembly Members’ Office Building. About 500 people attended, including young people, lawmakers, local government officials, promotional ambassadors, creators and award recipients.

The event was divided into two parts: an organizing committee appointment ceremony and an awards ceremony. The first part included the appointment of organizing committee members, promotional ambassadors and creator organizing committee members for the 10th Korea Youth Day Festival. The “2026 Korea Youth Declaration,” pledging to build a society where young people’s thoughts and voices are respected and to continue taking on challenges and standing together, was also read aloud.

Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province won the overall grand prize for metropolitan-level local governments at the Youth-Friendly Constitutional Awards. Seoul’s Seongbuk District won the overall grand prize for basic-level local governments. Both were recognized for policies and achievements that helped create youth-friendly environments.

The list of award winners also included Busan’s Nam, Suyeong and Jung districts; Seoul’s Gangdong, Nowon, Eunpyeong, Seocho, Seongdong, Gwangjin, Songpa and Yangcheon districts; and Hwaseong Special City, Paju, Ansan, Anyang, Gunpo, Siheung and Gwangmyeong in Gyeonggi Province. Also honored were Gwangyang, Yeongam, Yeonggwang, Haenam and Goheung in South Jeolla Province; Jeonju, Iksan, Wanju, Gochang and Buan in North Jeolla Province; Cheonan, Cheongyang and Yesan in South Chungcheong Province; Pohang, Yecheon and Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province; and Uiryeong, Hadong, Gimhae and Hamyang in South Gyeongsang Province.

Social Contribution Merit Awards were also presented to individuals and organizations that contributed to the development of young people and society. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award went to Lee Sang-jun, head of the incorporated K-Culture Education Central Association. Recipients of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee Chair’s Award included Jang Young-cheol, executive vice president and head of Coupang’s social contribution office, and Lee Ho-seong, a representative of the Korea Central Medical Volunteer Association.

The event was held ahead of the Korea Youth Day Festival. The main festival, marking its 10th anniversary this year, will take place over three days from the 18th to the 20th at Gwangalli Beach in Busan. It is co-hosted by the incorporated association Youth and Future and iNews24, with support from Busan’s Suyeong District, government ministries, the Busan Metropolitan Government and the Busan Metropolitan Council, among others.

During the event, there will be a K-pop concert, a drone show, a creator festival, a cheerleading championship, a youth singing contest and a fashion show. BewhY, Far East Asian Tigers, No Brain, ODD YOUTH, MC Sniper, MayTree, Skull & Haha, and WOO (Seong Hyun-woo) are scheduled to perform at the K-pop concert.

Jeong Hyeon-gon, chairman of Youth and Future, said, “We place importance on putting young people at the center of the festival so that each young person’s challenge and participation can lead to greater change.”

Promotional poster for the 10th Korea Youth Day Festival. Image: Youth and Future / iNews24.

The following is a list of the major award winners.

△ 8th Youth Startup Awards: Grand Prize, DevFive; Top Excellence Award, BS Technology; Excellence Award, IrubiC.

△ 11th Youth Policy Competition, policy category for net zero, responding to the climate crisis, resource recycling and improving the living environment: Grand Prize, the “Young People Protect the Environment” team; Top Excellence Award, Joo So-eun; Excellence Award, Kim Su-in.

△ Policy category for employment, labor, jobs and industrial safety: Grand Prize, Lee Gi-jun; Top Excellence Award, the “Junyong-ui Minjok” team; Excellence Award, Na Hyeon-gyeong.

△ Family, youth and gender equality category: Grand Prize, Kim Ju-hyeong; Top Excellence Awards, Kim Ho-jeong and Yoon So-rim.