Youth gender balance forums to expand to regional South Korea

Initiatives promoting gender balance and dialogue among young people are expanding from the capital to regional areas across South Korea. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, in collaboration with the Korea National Council for Gender Equality Education, has selected the Gangwon Special Province and the Chungbuk Women's Foundation as operating partners for regional youth gender balance forums in 2026.

These forums aim to create spaces where young individuals can share their experiences related to gender perceptions and collaboratively develop policy solutions. Previously, the ministry organized events like the "Sodapop Gender Equality Talk Concert" and launched the "Youth Co-existence and Empathy Committee" to foster discussions on gender equality policies among those in their 20s and 30s.

The expansion to regional areas is designed to address local issues and socio-economic conditions, including demographic structures and gender perceptions specific to each region. Gangwon Province will host the "Gangwon Youth Gender Empathy Lounge, All's Conversation" in October, where about 50 young people will engage in participatory lectures and discussions to share experiences and devise practical "gender empathy action pledges."

Meanwhile, the Chungbuk Women's Foundation will operate the "Balance Chungbuk: Youth Public Forum" from September to November. This forum will be youth-led, with approximately 40 participants involved in planning and execution. They will identify gender balance issues rooted in daily life and local contexts, aiming to link these discussions to regional community policies. The ministry plans to evaluate the pilot programs in Gangwon and Chungbuk to determine future expansion.

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Through this public forum, we will support young people so that they can proactively create a gender-equal culture in their regions.