Engaging Youth in Policy Making (KR0049)

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? Enhancing citizen participation and influence in the policy making process and fostering a civil society-friendly environment.

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? Although the importance of multi-stakeholder participation in realizing open government is well recognized, there are insufficient opportunities for youth to participate in policy making. Furthermore, as there is a perception that participation and interest on the part of youth in government operation and policies are lacking both at home and abroad, societywide efforts to reflect opinions of the youth, who are the main actors of future society, in policies are important.

What is the commitment? The purpose of this commitment is to expand opportunities for youth to participate in the policy making process and to create opportunities to establish and strengthen domestic and international youth networks.
1. Expand opportunities for youth to participate in policy making (Current Situation) The Korean government and civil society run a multi-stakeholder forum (MSF), Open Government Forum Korea (OGFK), to realize the goal of open government. In 2019, a youth working group was established to reflect youth opinion. The youth working group consists of over 100 youth members recruited annually by the Citizen’s Coalition for Better Government and takes part in establishing, implementing, and assessing NAPs. (Future Plans) OGFK will create opportunities to consistently reflect the voice of Korean youth, who will be able to submit suggestions on realizing open government goals such as transparency, anti-corruption and citizen participation, not only during the half-year tenure when NAPs are established but throughout the year. Platforms for discussion with government institutions will be generated to develop their suggestions into policies.
2. Government-wide innovation assessment (Current Situation) As the lead ministry in government innovation, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety assesses government innovation across 43 central administrative agencies. Every year, the Ministry establishes the Government Innovation Assessment Implementation Plan, reflecting opinions of multi-stakeholders and rewards exemplary institutions. (Future Plans) Youth will be included in the Citizen Assessment Group to voice their opinion on government innovation assessment. The degree to which government innovation efforts were felt by citizens will also be assessed.
3. Establish OGP youth network as OGP co-chair (Current Situation) The Government of the Republic of Korea is the co-chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Representing 78 OGP member nations as the lead co-chair since October 2020, Korea is leading international open government activities and laying out a vision for the OGP going forward, together with the civil society co-chair. (Future plans) The Korean government will support Korean youth as they establish an international network and work together to solve global problems. To this end, participation of multi-stakeholders including youth will be incorporated in the co-chair vision and Korea will share its experience of running a Youth Working Group within the MSF so that other OGP countries can follow suit. In particular, with the 7th OGP Global Summit to be hosted by Korea and other major international meetings planned for 2021, Korea will create opportunities for youth from various countries to cooperate.

How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? The commitment will allow year-round suggestions to the MSF, enhance the effectiveness of youth participation through Government Innovation Assessment and establish policies that raise the quality of life enjoyed by youth. Furthermore, youth opinion is expected to be reflected in international open government efforts through the international youth network.

Exchange and Peer Learning N/A

Additional Information Currently running a youth working group within a multi-stakeholder forum, OGFK.

Milestone Activity with a Verifiable Deliverable Start Date End Date Hold regular OGFK sessions and run the Youth Working Group September 1, 2020 To continue indefinitely Host International Youth Summit September 1, 2020 October 2020 Establish and implement OGP co-chair vision October 1, 2020 September 30, 2021 Government-wide participation in Government Innovation Assessment November 1, 2020 November 1, 2021 December 31, 2020 December 31, 2021 Hold youth sessions, taking the opportunity to host the 7th OGP Global Summit January 1, 2021 Fourth quarter of 2021

Action Plan Review

Commitment 1. Engage youth in policy making and strengthen overseas networking

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Modest

Results Report

Commitment 1. Engage youth in policymaking and strengthen overseas networking

This commitment aimed to expand opportunities for youth to participate in policy making. Since 2019, the Citizen’s Coalition for Better Government (an Open Government Committee member) holds an annual open application and interview process to recruit and convene a Youth Working Group which takes part in establishing, implementing, and assessing OGP action plans. The working group comprised 100 members in 2019 [1] and continued to operate during the implementation period. [2] As OGP Co-Chair for 2020–2021, Korea held a special Youth Summit during the 7^th OGP Global Summit in December 2021. An international youth network was established through the OGP Youth Summit, which was further strengthened through a Youth Debate held during the Open Government Week in May 2023. [3] All milestones were completed. The Government of Korea also went beyond the agreed commitment by having the Youth Working Group convey youth perspectives to all government ministries. From 2020 to 2023, it was gradually expanded to about 480 youth by August 2023 (20 representatives for each of the 24 ministerial agencies). [4] In addition, in March 2023, Article 15 of the Framework Act on Youth (promulgated February 2020) was amended to require at least three-tenths youth representation for committees that primarily deal with youth policies. [5]