[First place of the 2023 Jeju Youth Policy Proposal Contest; Photo Credit to Boyoung Ryu]

The director of the Center of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province recently hosted the 2023 “Jeju Youth Policy Proposal Contest” on the 20th of May.

The purpose of the contest was to commemorate Youth Month while also providing a platform for young individuals to actively participate in politics and policies, particularly focusing on the theme of "Environment."

This year, many students have showcased innovative ideas for addressing environmental challenges.

The environmental policies were divided into four sections: Living Environment, Natural Environment, Global Environment, and Environmental Culture.

There were three policies for Living Environment, one for Natural Environment, four for Global Environment, and one for Environmental Culture were suggested.

The contest prompted students between the ages of 13 and 18 to discuss and present their policies in teams of fewer than five members or as individuals.

Many talented students were eager to provide their unique perspectives on environmental issues and participate in the competition.

For the first round on the 18th of April, an initial judgment was conducted, where only eight teams were selected to proceed to the presentation stage.

During the final round, three judges evaluated each team's presentation based on various criteria, including problem recognition, creativity, logic, feasibility, policy proposal background, understanding of the proposed policy, presentation ability, and the possibility of local empathy.

The top five teams with the highest scores received prizes and recognition for their outstanding efforts.

The prize of the top five winning teams was divided, with the first-place winner receiving 500,000 won, the second-place winner receiving 300,000 won, the third-place winner receiving 200,000 won, and the fourth and fifth-place winners each receiving 100,000 won.

This reward served as encouragement for the participants and incentivised them to continue pursuing their passion for suggesting policies and participating in politics. 

To further extend the impact and outreach of the contest, the presentations were not only showcased on television but also made available on YouTube. 

This approach allowed for the students’ ideas to reach a wider audience, inspiring other students to try entering the competition and also showing students’ brilliant ideas on politics.

Moreover, it provided a good experience for participants preparing for the speech and being shown to the others.

Among the standout proposals, Boyoung Ryu was the first-place winner with her comprehensive policy suggestions about bicycles and their potential to reduce carbon emissions.

She suggested various ways to increase the usage of bicycles, such as improving the roads and making it a school activity.

Her innovative approach impressed the judges and showcased her deep understanding of the environmental challenges faced by the local community. 

Nonetheless, Boyoung Ryu was not the only contributor to impactful ideas during the contest. 

Various other participants introduced their impressive proposals.

For example, the adoption of electric cars as a means of combating pollution, the importance of integrating "environment" as a dedicated subject within the school curriculum, and reducing carbon emissions in Jeju's airports.

Their suggested policies could contribute significantly to overall environmental sustainability.

The 2023 Jeju Youth Policy Proposal Contest provided a unique opportunity for the youth to showcase their talent, creativity, and commitment to environmental issues.

As their proposals were able to reach a broader audience through television and online platforms, it is expected that these ideas will inspire action among both the youth and the wider community.