Korea's Youth Village: Where Young Entrepreneurs Give New Life to the Countryside of Korea
"Cheongnyeon Maeul" (청년마을, Youth Village) refers to communities formed through the "Youth Village Creation Project," an initiative led by South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety. This project provides financial support for local revitalization programs run by Korean young entrepreneurs in various regions around the nation.
A key feature of this initiative is its high degree of autonomy and minimal interventions from the public authority, encouraging diverse and creative approaches by young entrepreneurs.
From 2017 to 2021, 15 villages were selected, followed by 12 more in 2022, 2023 and 2025 each, creating a total of more than 50 Youth Villages by 2025. Each village is eligible for up to 600 million KRW ($429,072) from Ministry of the Interior and Safety in support over a maximum of three years, although the exact funding can vary based on performance.
As of April 4, 2024, an impressive 33 out of the 39 Youth Village enterprises remained operational after their three-year public grant period concluded. These entities, ranging from corporations to co-operatives, have successfully achieved financial stability and now sustain themselves through for-profit ventures, including tour programs and product sales.
Operational Models and Program Types of Youth Villages
Typically, a Youth Village operates with essential infrastructure like accommodation for temporary residents and co-working spaces for workations, workshops, and lectures. These spaces are often established through collaboration with local partners or by integrating other government support projects.
The majority of programs are designed to support experiential stays for people from outside the region. The most common format is the "local living" program (Jiyeok-sari, 지역살이), which provides participants with the time and activities to explore a new area. However, the nature of these stays varies widely—from simple, short-term residencies to long-term stays focused on supporting startups and permanent settlement. Even when programs seem similar, each village differentiates itself through its unique method of linking local resources, engaging with external populations, and building relationships.
Each Youth Village strives to define its unique identity and content. "What kind of village will we be?" and "How are we different from other regions?" are central questions. This distinct character attracts a specific type of person, and these people, in turn, influence the village's evolution. It's a symbiotic relationship where people and place interact to form a unique community. Ultimately, people are drawn to a Youth Village that resonates with their personal style and values. In this sense, the "Youth Village" framework itself becomes a powerful tool for regional branding.
So, what kinds of programs are these Youth Villages using to build new types of communities?
Given the diversity, many villages design similar types of programs, and it's common for a single village to offer multiple programs simultaneously.
The main categories are:
'Sarabogi' (살아보기) - Living a Local Life: Programs focused on the experience of living in the region itself.
Settlement & Startup Support: Programs that help participants become new economic actors in the region.
Forging a Village Identity: Programs that cultivate a unique, new character for the village.
Let's delve into the primary characteristics, detailed methods, and specific examples for each category.
① 'Sarabogi' (Living a Local Life): Immersing in the Community
The first category is the "Sarabogi" or "local living" program. The primary focus here is simply on the act of living in a new place. Rather than emphasizing specific activities or regional specialties, the core appeal is the experience of stepping away from one's daily life to try a new lifestyle. These programs are often designed to feel like an extended trip, allowing participants to visit and reside in a region for a period.
Typically, these residency programs are built around an existing local youth community. The duration varies from a few days to a month or even two, and they are often linked with "workation" concepts. While some programs are fully funded, others are designed to generate revenue.
"Sarabogi" experiences tend to focus more on cultivating a "relational population" (Gwangye-ingu, 관계인구) rather than immediately increasing the "settled population" (Jeongchak-ingu, 정착인구). A relational population refers to a network of people who, while not permanent residents, maintain a continuous and meaningful connection to the area. The goal is to offer an opportunity and an experience, opening the door to deeper, more diverse forms of engagement in the future. If the experience resonates with a participant, they might choose to settle down, or they might become regular visitors, thereby strengthening their bond with the place.
Here are a couple of good examples:
Ganghwa Universe (강화유니버스) in Ganghwa-do runs a seasonal residency program called "Jamsi-seom" (잠시섬, Temporary Island). Participants live on the island, visit various shops connected to the organization, and engage with reflective tools like question cards for self-care. As the name suggests, it provides a space to pause and connect with oneself and the region.
Jayudo (자유도) in Gongju offers workation-based residency programs and also independently hosts seminars and workshops on local topics.
Gangneung Salja (강릉살자) in Gangneung operates programs aimed at individuals considering long-term workations that could lead to permanent settlement, keeping the region's long-term sustainability in mind.
While many Youth Villages offer a "Sarabogi" program, some have elevated it to another level, creating a place where people genuinely want to live. These examples often represent the most advanced and authentic villages—those with strong, pre-existing communities where the organization is deeply rooted. Here, the community itself becomes the brand, attracting new participants. This is the most challenging level to achieve, as it requires the residents' daily lives to become a true reflection of the region's appeal. The clearer the area's unique character, community, or atmosphere, the more profound and meaningful the program becomes.
This approach stands in stark contrast to the "One-Month Living" (Handal-sari, 한달살이) programs often run directly by the Ministry of Agriculture or local governments. Those initiatives, which provide subsidies for accommodation and living expenses, are designed to boost the local economy and attract population inflow through tourism. However, they often treat participants as little more than tourists, encouraging consumption within a framework that marks them as outsiders. For young people seeking more than a surface-level experience, this model has its limits. Even for someone genuinely interested in relocating, the experience remains indirect.
In contrast, the Youth Village programs offer a genuine taste of life in the provinces. Participants can interact with young people who have already settled there, hearing their stories and gaining a realistic understanding of rural life. It allows them to confront their own uncertainties about relocating by witnessing the realities and possibilities firsthand. They can directly experience whether they fit into the community. It’s an opportunity to move beyond tourism and truly envision their own life in a new context.
What young people truly need are answers to critical questions: Can I adapt well here? Are there viable opportunities for me to make a living? Can I find the same sense of solidarity and community I had in Seoul? Perhaps the "Sarabogi" programs of Cheongnyeon Maeul are the very platform that allows them to find these answers.
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