Seoul is one of the Guangzhou Awards Winners.
Seoul has developed a great capacity for innovation in urban planning and management and has recently implemented a very transparent procurement system. But it is in the social field, aimed particularly at helping young people experiencing severe problems, that two highly original initiatives merit being highlighted and widely disseminated. The first is a Youth Prostitution Prevention Project, and the second tackles the growing problem – of great significance in Korea and many other countries–that of internet addiction.
The issue of teenage prostitution has grown steadily over the last 15 years, and around 200,000 young people run away from home each year. Many young girl runaways are at grave risk of falling into prostitution, even if they do not define themselves as such. When they are found, sending them back to homes that are often dysfunctional and prone to domestic violence or to temporary shelters have proven to be ineffective. Therefore, a new philosophy of social intervention has led to the establishment of the ‘Self-Empowerment School for teen prostitutes’, run by a multi-disciplinary team. The first school opened in 2009 followed swiftly by a second. Their success has led to cofunding by central government.
The first Seoul initiative is a Youth Prostitution Prevention Project, and the second tackles the growing problem – of great significance in Korea and many other countries–that of internet addiction.
A restaurant/café was opened to provide job training and experience for the girls. A crucial element in the success of the schools is its focus on self-empowerment – the engagement of the girls themselves in building a brighter future. The initiative also uses the web in a proactive way, and finding practical` vocational/job training and placement is central. The school initially met with opposition from local residents, and the city has worked hard to change these perceptions and win support. The second issue – internet addiction – is important given that over 12% of Korean citizens between the ages of 9 and 39 are estimated to have some symptoms of internet addiction. It affects young people in particular. The city government has set up since 2009 “I Will Centres” – and five such centres will have been further established by the end of 2012. The aim is to help young people commit to changing their lives, using a wide range of counseling and therapy techniques and also through preventative work in schools and with parents. The centres have already led to significant international interest.
