Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim met with the Gyeonggi Youth Volunteer Corps and expressed his desire to make Gyeonggi Province a warm community of harmonious coexistence and inclusion.

On November 18, Governor Kim attended the Gyeongcheongbong Dodam Four Seasons event at Dodamso (the former gubernatorial residence) and said, “I want to make Gyeonggi Province a place where people live together harmoniously. It is important to develop the economy and livelihoods, but it is also important to create a community where we all coexist,” adding that coexistence and inclusion make society sustainable.

He then expressed his gratitude, saying, “Your volunteer work has given strength and encouragement to Gyeonggi residents, helping to those in need.”

The event was organized to pay heed to and discuss the activities of the Gyeonggi Youth Volunteer Corps over the past year. The event name, “Kyungcheongbong Dodam Four Seasons,” refers to this gathering at Dodamso to review the “four seasons” of activities by the Gyeonggi Youth Volunteer Corps, now in their fifth year. This is the third meeting between Governor Kim and the Gyeonggi Youth Volunteer Corps, following the inauguration ceremony for the group’s fifth round of members in March and the clean-up event (walking/running to pick up trash) held at Mt. Paldalsan in June.

The Gyeonggi Youth Volunteer Corps, run by the Gyeonggi Volunteer Center, was launched in 2019 and is now in its fifth year. Comprising 1,494 young Gyeonggi residents between the ages of 19 to 34, it is the largest youth volunteer organization run by a Korean local government.

Since its inauguration in March, the Gyeonggi Youth Volunteer Corps has conducted various volunteer activities throughout the province to address various social problems and improve the lives of local residents. Key activities included collecting marine debris (April), helping grape farmers (June), caring for rescue dogs (September), and engaging in climate crisis response practices (annual). Separately, 43 youth volunteer teams were organized to carry out their own annual volunteer activities.

During the event, participants watched a video recap of the past year’s activities and shared their impressions of the program. There was also an in-depth discussion about the future of youth volunteering.

“Through the Gyeonggi Youth Volunteer Corps, I realized once again that paying a little attention to the community and neighbors can make a big difference. I will continue to be a young person who can take the lead in solving social problems,” said Park Ji-eun, a group member who attended the event.

Following the event, Governor Kim hosted a grilled pork belly party with the youth volunteers and joined in more casual conversations. This is said to have been prompted by his promise to “have a pork belly party” during the group member inauguration ceremony in March. Governor Kim has shown great interest in the activities of the Youth Volunteer Corps and increased support for volunteer meals from KRW 8,000 to KRW 10,000 in July after receiving a suggestion to realize the actual payment standard during an activity with Youth Volunteer Corps members in June.

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Volunteer Center will recruit a sixth group of approximately 1,500 young adults in the province between the ages of 19 and 39 next year.