Dongjak District Launches Child Participation Committee... Children Propose Policies

45 Committee Members Selected from 3rd Grade to Age 18

Dongjak District in Seoul (Mayor Ryu Samyoung) announced on the 28th that it has established and begun operating a "Child Participation Committee" to expand children's participation in policymaking.

Ryu Samyoung, Mayor of Dongjak District, attended the '2026 Child Participation Committee Launch Ceremony' held at the district office's main conference room on the 25th and delivered a greeting. Provided by Dongjak District.

The district held an inauguration ceremony on the 25th in the main conference room on the 5th floor of the district office, with Mayor Ryu Samyoung, child participation committee members, youth mentoring group members, parents, and about 80 other attendees. The ceremony included an introduction to the Child Participation Committee, a reading of the inauguration declaration, the awarding of appointment certificates to the child committee members and youth mentors, and a commemorative photo session. The program continued with a film screening on children's rights, followed by organizing subcommittees and electing subcommittee leaders, officially launching the committee's activities.

The Child Participation Committee is an organization that allows children to directly identify local issues and propose policies. In June, the district selected 45 children as committee members from among third-grade elementary students up to those under 18 years old who are either registered residents of Dongjak District or enrolled in schools within the district. In addition, a youth mentoring group of 10 members was formed to facilitate subgroup discussions and help organize the ideas of the committee members.

From the inauguration through October, the committee members will hold regular and ad hoc meetings, as well as engage in subgroup activities, to develop specific policy proposals. In November, an activity report session will be held to share outcomes and deliver a policy proposal statement to the district office. The district will review the proposals for possible reflection in district policies. So far, Dongjak District has promoted child-friendly policies such as hosting the Children's Grand Festival and expanding Kiwoom Centers, taking children's opinions into account.

Mayor Ryu Samyoung stated, "Through the Child Participation Committee, I hope children will be able to freely express their ideas and take part in district policymaking," adding, "We will actively listen to and support the diverse views coming from the children's perspective so that they can be incorporated into actual policies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.