Youth-led initiatives promote reading and study spaces in South Korea

Youth-led activities are expanding educational and creative opportunities across South Korea. In Gwacheon, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Gwacheon Library is hosting an exhibition of 16 books authored by teenagers from November 3 to 30. The collection includes works created by the ‘Narae-eum’ youth supporters and students from Gwacheon High School, covering genres such as novels, essays, poetry, sports, and science.

In Sejong, members of the Goun Youth Center’s 8th Youth Steering Committee, ‘Ttukttak’, have proposed the weekend opening of school libraries. The initiative aims to address the shortage of public library study spaces during exam periods and reduce the financial burden on students who otherwise rely on paid study cafes. Following a successful pilot program at Goun Middle School, the group has met with the Sejong City Council and the Sejong Metropolitan Office of Education to advocate for formal policies and guidelines to institutionalize the weekend use of school facilities.