“I Wanted to Inform People About the Reality of Support Ending When Leaving Youth Welfare Facilities”

Jeong Yun-seo, a 22-year-old activist, is raising awareness about a critical disparity in South Korea's welfare system: the abrupt cessation of support for young people aging out of youth welfare facilities at 18. Unlike children from child welfare facilities who continue to receive support, those from youth facilities, such as shelters, often find themselves without institutional backing upon reaching adulthood. This gap, stemming from differing government ministry oversight, leaves these young individuals in a precarious position as they attempt to transition to independent life. Jeong, who experienced this firsthand after spending her adolescence in a shelter, is determined to bridge this divide.

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Do you know the difference between child welfare facilities and youth welfare facilities? Children who have been abused by their parents enter based on the region, timing, and facility circumstances. But children who go to youth welfare facilities are forgotten by the system when they leave at 18. Just because the responsible ministry is different.

Her organization, 'Bridge Youth,' founded with seven like-minded friends and now boasting over 70 members nationwide, aims to connect youth welfare facility residents, former residents, and society. The group actively shares information on support programs and volunteer opportunities through online platforms. Jeong emphasizes the stark contrast in support systems, noting that while child welfare facility graduates might have pathways to continued assistance, those from youth facilities often face significant hurdles, such as difficulties securing university enrollment without family consent for financial aid applications. She highlights that only about 38% of shelter children pursue higher education, a statistic she narrowly escaped.

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It felt strange. Several support policies for 'youth preparing for independence' did not apply to those of us from shelters. We are all young people preparing for independence.

'Bridge Youth' has been actively lobbying relevant institutions to address the systemic gaps, particularly concerning the exclusion of youth welfare facilities from the National Basic Livelihood Security Act. Their efforts have garnered some positive responses, including offers of support like tailored suits for first-time job seekers from a local business owner and the establishment of monthly self-help meetings for members in the Seoul metropolitan area. These gatherings aim to combat the isolation often experienced by young adults after leaving facilities, providing a crucial support network.

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Why is it so different? Many people working in social welfare also don't know that youth from shelters fall into a blind spot in support policies. If no one knows, we have to let them know ourselves.

Jeong herself recently served as the youngest member of the Ulsan Mayor's transition committee, advocating for youth-related policies. Despite her advocacy, she expresses a sense of urgency, emphasizing the need for swift, practical policy changes. 'Bridge Youth' currently operates on donations from supporters and contributions from its members, a precarious financial situation given the members' own limited resources and Jeong's impending military service. Her ultimate hope is for a swift shift in welfare policies from a provider-centric to a recipient-centric approach, ensuring that support is accessible regardless of the type of facility a young person has experienced.

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Shelter children have a university enrollment rate of only 38%. I am one of the lucky 4 out of 10.