High-Level Political Forum 2025 Side Event
VOICES OF YOUTH Advancing the SDGs from Incheon to the World
We are not just the leaders of tomorrow. We are the changemakers of today.
PROPOSAL
July 2025
VOICES OF YOUTH Advancing the SDGs from Incheon to the World
We are not just the leaders of tomorrow. We are the changemakers of today.
PROPOSAL
INTRODUCTION
Voices of Youth
1. Editorial As a successful international metropolis connecting South Korea to the world, Incheon is not only a hub of international trade and innovation but also home to vibrant and forward-thinking youth who are rising to meet global challenges—economic instability, environmental degradation, health disparities, and inequality. Instead of passively observing, today’s youth serve as change agents—compassionate, imaginative, and globally minded. This brochure is the product of that leadership. It captures the lived experiences of South Korean youth and their innovative solutions to problems that are both applicable in South Korea and globally. Incheon students have shown that, with the resources, confidence, and opportunity for leadership, local youth participation can generate scalable solutions. As we approach the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025, we believe the world must hear more from young people’s voices. These students are not waiting for adulthood to take action. Beginning right here in Incheon, they are already creating innovative public health systems, tackling gender-based violence, fostering inclusive economic growth, conserving oceans, and establishing global alliances.
2. Purpose of This Brochure This brochure aims to shed light on how young people in Incheon are acting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with local vision, global insight, and creative problem-solving. Students have developed proposals that address key social, environmental, and economic issues through collaborative research, youth-led ideation, and observations in real life in communities. Unlike formal policies created by institutions, these ideas come directly from the young ones who will most feel the impact of the future we are creating. This proposal proves that students are really creating their own solutions rather than simply being aware of global issues. Data, experience, and peer-to-peer collaboration
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are the building blocks for these concepts. The brochure fulfills several purposes. Since sustainable change often starts at the base level, its first goal is to motivate other young people around the world to become active in the SDGs in their communities. It also seeks to motivate teachers, policy makers, and United Nations officials to actively include the voice of young people in global strategy formulation and implementation. Above all, this brochure demonstrates that achieving the SDGs is not a top-down process; rather, it is a cooperative effort that must involve all generations—starting with students, schools, and communities unifying for a sustainable world.
3. SDGs Featured at HLPF 2025 The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2025 conducts an integrated thematic review of five individual SDGs (3, 5, 8, 14, and 17). The students of Incheon have aligned their proposals with these goals, using their local environment as a testing ground for solutions with global significance. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Youth in Incheon learn how peers’ smoking and mental health issues affect them and provide tech-enabled, compassionate interventions to advance the health and well-being of adolescents. SDG 5: Gender Equality Students submit multi-dimensional solutions, such as the Digital Youth Protection Card (DYPC), to safeguard rights, ensure support, and advocate for systemic transformation in response to the growing risks of digital-based sexual violence. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Youths come up with creative employment engagement solutions like the Employencer model and youth-led media content to spur local industries and promote economic inclusion amid regional disparity and labor market insecurity. SDG 14: Life Below Water Youths suggest creative eco-branding, green product solutions, and blue carbon offset mechanisms to conserve coastal ecosystems from plastic pollution and microplastic danger to Incheon’s marine ecosystems. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals Students stress the need for an international exchange camp, ‘Unboxed Youth,’ which is a cross-border program that is proposed for meaningful international
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cooperation and combines media partnership, youth activism, and diplomacy. Each of these proposals in this brochure manifests a strong connection between realities on the ground and the broader global vision articulated via the Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives are not thought up on paper— they are conceived out of experience, careful observation of grassroots issues, and a zeal to spearhead practical, people-centered change. By connecting lived challenges in Incheon to global priorities recognized across borders, the proposals reinforce how young people are best suited to be both problemsolvers and bridge-builders. Their initiatives demonstrate that when young people take the lead, progress is more innovative, more responsive, and ultimately more sustainable. By doing so, these efforts show that young people can very much bring about change in all fields—health, gender equality, economic growth, protection of the environment, and partnership for achieving global goals—infusing new energy into the global SDG movement.
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Voices of Youth
IN-DEPTH PROPOSALS
1. Student Information Chan Yun
Sunin High School
Minju Jo
Garim High School
Eungyeol Jo
Garim High School
Yieun Cho
Garim High School
2. Current Challenge in Your Community National Level Youth smoking remains a pressing public health issue in South Korea, directly challenging SDG Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. While the rate of traditional cigarette use among adolescents has decreased slightly—from 9.7% in 2013 to 6.2% in 2023—the emergence of ecigarettes and heated tobacco products has reversed this trend in recent years. According to a 2023 study, 4.5% of male adolescents and 2.2% of female adolescents now use e-cigarettes, showing a clear gender gap in usage patterns. These products are often promoted on social media and indirectly endorsed by influencers and celebrities, increasing youth curiosity and lowering the average smoking initiation age. The Government of the Republic of Korea has implemented various countermeasures, such as banning tobacco advertising targeting minors, reinforcing anti-smoking education in schools, and conducting retail inspections. However, challenges persist. Online sales remain difficult to regulate, and ID checks at physical stores are inconsistently enforced. Without a more structured,
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tech-integrated, and youth-centered policy framework, adolescent smoking will continue to threaten public health, social equity, and the educational environment.
Local Level Incheon is experiencing similar challenges. Many students report easy access to tobacco products near schools, often due to insufficient ID checks at convenience stores. Moreover, local parks and public areas near schools are known spots where youth smoking occurs, yet monitoring and enforcement remain inconsistent. The Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education offers a range of school-based programs, including preventive education, counseling services, and student-led anti-smoking clubs. Some district offices are also actively involved in inspecting youth environments. Nevertheless, these efforts lack cohesion and scale. For meaningful impact, a community-based strategy is essential: Partnerships among health centers, youth counselling services, volunteer organizations, and schools
To ensure long-term effectiveness, collaboration must go beyond school walls. When local health centers, youth counseling services, volunteer networks, and schools form a unified support system, they can identify at-risk students earlier, offer more personalized interventions, and provide consistent follow-up. These partnerships make it easier to pool resources, share data responsibly, and build a safety net that is proactive rather than reactive. Public campaigns tied to local festivals and digital platforms
Changing perceptions around youth smoking requires more than classroom lectures. By embedding public health messages into local cultural festivals and social media platforms, we can reach young people where they already are—both physically and digitally. These events create natural moments for peer engagement, community recognition, and interactive learning. Digital campaigns, in particular, offer scalable, cost-effective outreach that can amplify student voices and normalize smoke-free behavior.
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One-stop support hubs—in schools or youth centers—for cessation support
Many students who want to quit smoking don’t know where to start or feel uncomfortable asking for help. Establishing youth-friendly, one-stop support hubs in schools or local youth centers can change this. These hubs could offer confidential counseling, access to mobile health tools, peer-led support groups, and even nicotine cessation products under professional supervision. Making support accessible in safe, familiar spaces removes barriers and encourages more young people to take the first step toward quitting.
3. Youth-led Proposal Youth smoking is not just a personal habit—it is a serious public health issue that threatens long-term well-being. Especially in today’s rapidly evolving digital world, traditional anti-smoking campaigns often fail to truly connect with teenagers. Simply telling young people, “Do not smoke,” is no longer enough. What we need are creative, relevant, and engaging solutions that reflect how youth live and interact with their environment. With this in mind, we developed three youth-led proposals to reduce teenage smoking in more practical and meaningful ways.
First Idea: Digital Smoking Cessation Companion App Our first idea is a mobile app that goes far beyond just delivering information. It would provide customized quit plans, track emotional triggers, and offer real-time support. Since most young people already rely on smartphones for everyday tasks, using a mobile app for smoking cessation makes the process more intuitive and accessible. The app would help users stay consistent with their goals, offer anonymous peer support, and allow them to seek help without judgment. Mobile health tools have already proven effective in changing behavior, and we believe this approach has strong potential.
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Second Idea: Incentive-Based NFT Reward System Our second idea introduces gamified incentives to make quitting smoking feel more rewarding. In this system, youth would receive digital rewards— such as NFTs (non- fungible tokens)— for achieving goals like staying smoke-free for a week or encouraging a friend to quit. These tokens could be traded, collected, or redeemed within an online community, adding a fun and motivational dimension. By shifting the focus from punishment to positive reinforcement, this approach is more likely to resonate with younger audiences.
Third Idea: Penalizing Adults Who Buy Tobacco for Youth Although current laws prohibit minors from purchasing tobacco, many still gain access through adults who buy it on their behalf. Our third proposal calls for a new policy that imposes fines on those adults. By holding them accountable, we can reduce indirect access to tobacco products. This policy highlights that protecting youth from smoking is a shared responsibility—not something young people must handle alone. Studies show that stronger enforcement leads to lower youth smoking rates, proving that collective action can make a real impact.
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Together, these three proposals demonstrate how young people can lead solutions to the challenges they face. Rather than waiting for adults to decide what’s best, we believe teenagers can lead with innovation, empathy, and responsibility. By combining technology, behavioral psychology, and policy action, this multi-layered strategy addresses both the emotional and environmental roots of youth smoking. We believe these ideas don’t just encourage teens to quit—they actively support them in doing so. If implemented effectively, these solutions can lower smoking rates, promote healthier lifestyles, and empower youth to take control of their future.
4. Youth Voices Youth smoking isn’t just a statistic—it’s something we see around us, and it concerns us deeply. Through this project, we’ve come to understand how serious the consequences can be. It’s not just about health; it’s about addiction, social pressure, and a system that sometimes fails to protect young people like us. We realized that simply saying “smoking is bad” isn’t enough. What really makes a difference is reaching out through channels we use every day—digital tools, relatable campaigns, and policies that hold adults accountable, not just youth. We’ve learned how early education, peer support, and community involvement can change attitudes and behaviors. And we’ve discovered that when young people are part of the solution, the result is more creative, more practical, and more powerful. As teenagers, we may not have all the answers—but we do have voices. And when we use them together, they’re strong. We hope our ideas don’t just stay in this proposal, but inspire action that leads to real change. Because youth voices matter. And we’re not just asking to be heard—we’re ready to be part of the solution.
We’re not just waiting for change — we’re ready to lead it.
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1. Student Information Jeongbeen Moon
Sangok High School
Jihyeon Mun
Inhwa Girls’ High School
Yewon Yun
Incheon Girls’ High School
Geonha Lee
Yeongjong International Logistics High School
2. Current Challenge in Your Community National Level South Korea continues to face persistent gender inequality, particularly in the workplace. As of 2023, women earn only about 65% of what men earn, placing South Korea at the bottom among OECD countries. Women’s political representation also remains limited. Although the proportion of female National Assembly members increased from 2.0% in 1988 to 20.0% in 2024, only 14.2% of elected district representatives are women. This shows that while women’s participation has increased numerically, real access to leadership and decisionmaking power remains insufficient. Another major concern is the imbalance in political participation. In 2024, women made up only 19% of the National Assembly, significantly below the global average of 26%. This lack of representation means that women’s perspectives are still underrepresented in policy decisions. Structural imbalances like these limit social engagement, undermine diversity and equity, and ultimately weaken South Korea’s global competitiveness and commitment to sustainable development.
Local Level In Incheon, gender inequality also persists. As of 2023, women held only about 20% of executive roles in public institutions under the Incheon Metropolitan Government—despite making up a significant part of the overall workforce. This suggests a “glass ceiling” is still in place, blocking women’s advancement to leaders10
hip positions. Women are also underrepresented in political spaces: only 15% of Incheon City Council members are women, which is below the national average and indicates that women’s voices remain limited in local policymaking. Gender-based violence—especially digital sexual crimes—is also rising in Incheon. Consultations related to sexual and domestic violence have steadily increased in recent years. Unfortunately, prevention education is still lacking for adolescents, and support systems for victims remain fragmented or insufficient. These gaps not only delay the realization of gender equality but also threaten the fundamental rights and safety of young people.
3. Youth-led Proposal
Incheon Digital Youth Protection Card (DYPC) Policy Overview and Background The DYPC is a youth-designed integrated protection system that aims to safeguard young people in digital spaces while promoting gender equality. As a global city with a large international airport and digital infrastructure, Incheon has both a thriving media environment and a growing number of digitally vulnerable populations—especially multicultural youth. This increases the risk of digital sexual crimes, making a locally tailored, multidimensional protection policy more urgent than ever.
Key Features: Five Core Rights DYPC is based on five essential rights that support youth safety and recovery:
01. Right to Request Content Deletion Victims can report and delete harmful content through AI-powered detection systems and coordinated takedown services. Reports can be submitted instantly via QR codes on the card or mobile app.
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02. Right to Access Specialized Recovery Programs Victims receive psychological and emotional support via the Incheon Youth Mental Health Center and specialized recovery classrooms.
03. Right to Culturally and Linguistically Tailored Access Support is provided in multiple languages—Vietnamese, Chinese, Uzbek, English, and more—through collaboration with the Incheon Multicultural Family Support Center.
04. Right to Anonymous Reporting via QR Code QR codes allow for fully anonymous incident reporting and connect victims to counseling services directly.
05. Right to Alternative Learning Environments Victims unable to return to their original classrooms may choose alternative formats such as remote learning or dedicated recovery classes.
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Strategic Partnerships To encourage DYPC usage, we propose collaboration with Toss Bank and the Incheon e-Eum Card system. Users earn e-Eum points by completing actions like reporting harmful content or participating in recovery programs. Those who assist with three or more verified cases may qualify for recovery funds or bonus incentives deposited into dedicated support accounts.
Card Design To raise local government interest, the phrase “Incheon: A City Where Youth Hold Digital Safety Rights” is featured prominently. A real IC chip is embedded in the card to encourage practical, everyday use and increase visibility. The card displays Incheon’s “Five Core Digital Rights for Youth” and includes a QR code for anonymous reporting of genderbased violations. A plane icon representing Incheon International Airport gives the design a modern and globally connected feel.
4. Youth Voices Through this project, we became more aware of how fast digital crimes are evolving—and how deeply they affect people our age. Before we started, many of us didn’t fully understand the seriousness of digital sexual crimes, especially among youth. But now, we do. We believe our society can no longer afford to overlook these issues. It’s time to stop treating digital violence as someone else’s problem, and instead make it a shared responsibility. That means not only punishing offenders, but also creating
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but also creating systems that prioritize victim recovery, safety, and dignity. We designed the DYPC to reflect what young people actually need—not just what adults think we need. We hope this system will not only reduce harm, but also empower youth to speak up, seek help, and protect one another. As the next generation, we believe it’s our job to build a safer and more equal world. Protecting youth is not just about the future—it’s about doing the right thing right now.
We created DYPC not just to protect ourselves, but to protect each other.
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1. Student Information Hayeong Choi
Michuhol Foreign Language High School
Gangseup Park
Sunin High School
Geonhui Lee
Incheon Nam High School
Juhyeon Lee
Michuhol Foreign Language High School
2. Current Challenge in Your Community National Level South Korea’s per capita GDP growth remains relatively strong among OECD countries. However, significant structural challenges persist—particularly in employment for young people and vulnerable populations. The youth employment rate is low, and the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate is notably high compared to the OECD average. This suggests that many young people are being excluded from economic participation and independence. Moreover, South Korea holds the highest elderly poverty rate among OECD members. Despite its macroeconomic achievements, the country still lacks a labor market structure that ensures stable and inclusive employment for youth, women, and the elderly.
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Local Level Incheon has grown into a strategic logistics hub, home to Incheon International Airport and a key seaport in Northeast Asia. However, despite these large- scale infrastructures, the city continues to face challenges such as youth unemployment and population outflow. These trends indicate that inclusive economic policies are still needed to ensure that development is sustainable and that all citizens can benefit equitably from growth.
3. Youth-led Proposal
“Employee + Influencer = Employencer.”
Marketing Example (1)
Marketing Example (2)
랑 놀자] by
인터내셔널] by
[LF
[LX
An “employencer” combines the authenticity of an employee with the outreach of an influencer. By promoting their workplaces through behind-the-scenes content, memes, or humorous commentary, employencers can shift public perceptions of certain industries, including government work. A powerful example is the YouTube channel Chungju-man, operated by a local civil servant, which garnered over 10 million views—far exceeding expectations for public sector content. The success stemmed not only from relatability but also from creative autonomy granted to the content creator. Inspired by this, we propose a project where youth MCs collaborate with young professionals in the logistics, port, and airport industries to produce promotional content. These videos—both short-form and long-form—should align with current trends and give youth full creative control, guided only by basic principles. When content reflects their real voices, it’s more likely to resonate with peers and spark interest in lesser-known careers.
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Youth Ideathon for Employment Innovation An ideathon is a condensed version of a hackathon. Unlike traditional hackathons, it removes the development phase and focuses solely on creative idea generation. By lowering the barriers to entry, ideathons attract a broader range of participants and yield a richer pool of innovative solutions. We propose hosting a youth- focused ideathon centered on local employment and logistics innovation. These events can serve as high-impact, low-cost platforms to gather actionable ideas while empowering youth as changemakers.
4. Youth Voices As part of SDG 8—Decent Work and Economic Growth—we explored the goal to “support productive activities and job creation,” particularly for youth in Incheon. Incheon is currently struggling to retain and employ young people due to regional economic disparities, youth outmigration, and weak local recruitment. To help address this, we proposed two key ideas. First, the Youth Ideathon will bring together fresh ideas in a short time frame and encourage collaboration. Second, the Youth-led Promotional Content Creation Project allows young people to rebrand logistics-related industries like aviation and maritime trade, making them more appealing to the next generation. We were especially motivated by Professor Jeffrey Sachs’ 2024 assessment that only 16% of the SDGs will be met by 2030 unless urgent action is taken. As one of the most foundational goals, SDG 8 affects livelihoods and economic dignity. We believe that youth-led content creation and inclusive innovation platforms like ideathons are practical steps toward fulfilling this goal. Through these efforts, we hope to make a real difference for our peers and communities.
When we tell our own stories, we don’t just raise awareness—we build a future worth working for.
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1. Student Information Hyewon Kang
Incheon Yeil High School
Seoyoung Kim
Yeongjong International Logistics High School
Songhyun Kim
Inhwa Girls’ High School
Choyi Yun
Inhwa Girls’ High School
2. Current Challenge in Your Community National Level South Korea is currently grappling with two main marine environmental issues. The first is the rapid increase in marine litter. This includes plastics, metals, glass, rubber, wood, and paper. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the total volume of marine litter has consistently increased from 2018 to 2023, with plastics (2,078.9 kg) comprising a significant share. These materials pose a severe threat to marine ecosystems. Ingested plastics cause digestive issues, nutrient deficiencies, and long-term illness in marine animals—and ultimately reach humans through the food chain. The second issue is the destruction of marine habitats, such as tidal flats and wetlands. National development, especially land reclamation projects, has contributed to economic progress but at the cost of damaging ecosystems and increasing the number of endangered species.
Local Level Incheon, a vital port city, faces significant challenges due to marine pollution caused by fishing, logistics, tourism, urbanization, and industrialization. 1. Plastic Waste Threats Incheon’s coastal waters face a severe threat from plastic waste and other forms
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of marine debris. A striking example is Ganghwa Island, where 99.8% of the collected waste consisted of plastic materials, including old plastic bags and sacks that had been submerged in the ocean for decades. This long- standing presence of plastic reflects a chronic failure in managing marine litter. The ecological impact is far-re aching. These plastics harm marine organisms by disrupting biodiversity and degrading overall ocean health. Moreover, the waste is not confined to the seabed; debris has also been found at mid-water depths, indicating that the pollution penetrates the entire marine environment. This layered contamination exacerbates the problem, making it more difficult to manage. Coastal areas with extensive tidal flats and sandy beaches also suffer from persistent year-round plastic accumulation, which continues to damage local ecosystems and reduce the aesthetic and ecological value of these natural spaces. 2. Microplastic Threats According to a 2023 study by the Incheon Institute, microplastic contamination in Incheon’s coastal waters is particularly severe. High concentrations of microplastics were detected in areas surrounding Gimpo, Ganghwa Island, Boleum Island, Yeongjong Island, and Incheon’s northern port. These microplastics are often invisible to the naked eye but are steadily polluting coastal ecosystems. They originate from both land-based and marine sources, entering the ocean through complex pathways that include the Han River, smaller tributaries, port facilities, marine waste, and shipping activity. This dual origin creates a compounded pollution scenario for Incheon’s coastline. If current patterns of plastic usage continue unchecked, scientists predict that by 2050–2100, microplastics will exert toxic effects on marine life—potentially causing severe harm to aquatic organisms. Furthermore, as these toxins enter the food chain, they pose a direct risk to human health. The situation demands urgent and sustained intervention.
3. Youth-led Proposal To contribute to SDG 14 (Life Below Water), we propose a multifaceted strategy
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that rebrands Incheon as a first-class marine ecological city driven by youth-led and community-based efforts.
Endangered Species Mascot Design Competition
SYMBOLIC COLORS
SYMBOLIC ANIMAL
COLLABORATION
Youth will design mascots based on regional endangered species (e.g., spotted seals, migratory birds). Winning characters will appear on eco-products such as bamboo toothbrushes, recycled tote bags, and sustainable stationery. These will be promoted via pop-up stores and social media to raise environmental awareness and support local branding.
Introducing Ooho (Biodegradable Water Capsules) These seaweed-based capsules will replace plastic bottles at public events like marathons. They are low-cost, carbon-neutral, and can feature mascots to reinforce eco- branding. New eco-beverages (e.g., Jeongseojin sunset-inspired juice) can complement these efforts.
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Alternative Packaging Since Ooho is unsuitable for food, sustainable packaging made of mycelium, crop skins, or sand and clay can be introduced to maintain functionality and sustainability.
Social Media Engagement and Eco-Content The mascots will star in reusable product lines, music videos, and social media challenges—e.g., a theme song about Incheon’s ocean. These activities will engage young audiences and promote marine preservation.
Blue Carbon and “Blue Token” Initiative By measuring and certifying CO2 absorption from Incheon’s tidal flats (including non-vegetated areas), we propose issuing digital carbon credits—“Blue Tokens.” These can be purchased by companies for ESG purposes. Citizens can also earn and use them through environmental activities.
4. Youth Voices SDG 14 is not just about protecting the environment — it’s a commitment to safeguarding our shared future. The ocean provides us with abundant resources and a life-sustaining environment, making marine ecosystems essential to human survival. That’s why protecting the ocean is a responsibility our generation must take seriously. Yet, marine pollution and the excessive use of plastics continue to threaten not only marine life, but also human health. Through this proposal, we came to realize the unique ecological value of Incheon. We also learned that even small, local actions can lead to meaningful, long-term change. The ideas we presented are more than just suggestions — they become powerful solutions when people come together and take action.
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Our research reaffirmed that young people can play a critical role in both local communities and global environmental efforts. As students, we are now committed to reducing plastic use in our everyday lives and to raising awareness about ocean protection. We hope our proposal inspires others to take interest in SDG 14 and join us in building a more sustainable, thriving ocean for generations to come.
We don’t just study marine issues — we live them, and we’re ready to act.
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1. Student Information Yeonhu Oh
Hakik Girls’ High School
Jaeeun Kim
Incheon Gonghang High School
Seohyeon Park
Incheon Yeongjong High School
Hyemin Shin
Inhwa Girls’ High School
2. Current Challenge in Your Community National Level South Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) remains relatively low, accounting for just 0.18% of its Gross National Income (GNI). In addition, trade with the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) comprises only 1.1% of South Korea’s total trade volume, indicating a limited economic partnership with vulnerable nations. The digital divide is another pressing issue: while most of the population is connected, the internet usage rate among people aged 75 and older is only half that of those aged 16 to 74. This highlights persistent inequality in access to digital infrastructure and opportunities across generations.
Local Level Incheon is a global gateway city known for its international airport, seaport, and diverse population. However, the level of collaboration among local government, civil society, and the private sector remains insufficient to support robust international engagement. While areas such as Songdo boast cutting-edge infrastructure as part of the Incheon Smart City initiative, other districts still lack access to basic digital infrastructure, contributing to a growing digital divide within the city itself. For Incheon to fulfill its role as a truly global city, inclusive and cooperative partnerships must be strengthened at all levels. 23
Unboxed Youth: A Global Partnership in Practice At the heart of SDG 17 is the idea that people from different countries and cultural backgrounds can come together to understand one another, collaborate, and co-create solutions to shared global challenges. However, in reality, many young people still lack opportunities to engage in meaningful international exchanges on equal footing. To address this gap, we propose “Unboxed Youth,” an international youth exchange camp held in Incheon. This program offers a dynamic platform where youth from around the world gather to discuss current issues, share experiences, and explore joint solutions—fostering authentic global partnerships through mutual learning. Incheon is uniquely suited for such a program. As home to an international airport, major seaport, foreign communities, international schools, and UNaffiliated institutions, Incheon serves as a hub of global connectivity and multicultural coexistence. The city’s infrastructure and diversity offer not only convenience but also a rich, real-world setting for youth to engage in global citizenship firsthand.
Country Issue Presentations
Model United Nations Simulation
Media Production & Collaboration
Participants will begin by presenting recent events or social issues from their home countries, placing them in historical and cultural context. Through these sessions, they will learn how perspectives vary across nations—and how something familiar to one person may be new or misunderstood by another.
Participants will take part in MUN sessions, where they are assigned to represent countries other than their own. This challenges them to research new national perspectives, navigate negotiations, and seek consensus— developing diplomacy and leadership skills through simulated global governance processes.
After the camp, participants will continue working together to create digital content such as card news summaries and video productions. These materials will be distributed in a global contest format, extending the impact of the event and fostering ongoing, youth-led digital collaboration networks based in Incheon.
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4. Youth Voices Why It Matters We believe that global citizenship begins with mutual understanding and trust. Through this program, we aim to build a space where young people can explore issues together, challenge each other’s perspectives, and work as true partners. By engaging in cultural exchanges and discussing key issues through collaborative activities, we develop emotional connections, build empathy, and gain the sensitivity needed to live in a diverse world. Unboxed Youth goes beyond diplomacy simulations—it is a platform for sustainable, youth-driven solidarity built on peaceful coexistence and shared responsibility. Our Commitment as Youth We are no longer content to be passive participants in global affairs. Instead, we aim to bring our voices into every conversation—in our communities, our schools, and on international platforms. Through this camp, we seek to take action beyond the program itself, sharing what we learn and inspiring others to join us. What We Learned We discovered that even the most complex global issues can find solutions when we listen to and empathize with one another’s stories. Cultural differences are not obstacles, but bridges to creative thinking and inclusive problem-solving.
We believe cultural differences aren’t barriers—they’re bridges for understanding, collaboration, and global change.
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Voices of Youth
INTERLINKAGES & TAKEAWAYS Whileall SDGs are individually crucial and valuable, they are best regarded for their true value when considered collectively. Good health and well-being connect directly to the rights of women to be both mentally and physically safe within society. Life below water must be protected not only for its beauty but also for its potential value as a critical resource for national economic growth. Goal 17, moreover, serves to unify all the goals through global partnerships and collaboration. To discuss in greater detail of the connections between each goal, below are some elaborate explanations. Good health and well-being exist within our lives quite intimately. We cannot think about living a normal life without discussing the importance of good health and well-being. This includes not only health issues regarding smoking from an early age, but also mental health issues that arise from digital sexual crimes. Victims of such crimes suffer severely from mental health disorders, varying from loss of self-esteem to depression. Plus, an individual’s good health and well-being are critical in economic development and growth. Thinking from a nation’s perspective, having healthy citizens is one of the best resources it can have. Not only do citizens in good shape (both mentally and physically) serve as the most productive workers, but they also elevate the standard of living in many aspects. Thus, good health and well-being cannot be neglected from an economic perspective. Much like a food web, the health of ocean ecosystems intricately affects human life. The ocean provides 50% of the world’s oxygen, which is already a significant portion for sustaining the lives of all humans (Ocean Generation). The ocean ecosystem holds immense value—far beyond what can be fully captured here. Last but not least, equitable access to healthcare throughout the world is best achieved through international support and communication. With organizations like Doctors Without Borders, we are able to take a step closer to providing medical services to places that lack them. Gender inequality often manifests in areas we may overlook that we sometimes fail to take notice of. When discussing access to healthcare, gender inequality is non-negligible. Gender inequality is one of the barriers to proper economic development. With lack of access to healthcare, nearly half of the world’s popul-
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ation loses the opportunity to have a healthy life. This means we lose half of the economy's potentially crucial resources. Additionally, women like the Haenyeo of South Korea dwell on the harvests in the sea. The protection of life underwater is especially important to them, as their livelihood depends on it. Therefore, their jobs, lives, and rights are highly dependent on the marine ecosystem. As always, gender inequality doesn’t only occur in one particular country or region. To globally eliminate such issues, all countries must collaborate to do so. Economic growth is once again relevant to our lives and every issue listed here. As explained above, gender inequality and poor health and well-being act as barriers to economic development and growth. Life under water is also a crucial resource for economic growth. For sustainable life and economic development, we must protect the marine system. Though countries compete for individual economic growth, due to the interdependent nature of the world, economic development often happens much quicker and more broadly with international trade and unions. Through our discussions and research as a group, we came to realize that these SDGs are deeply connected, often in ways we hadn’t noticed before. For example, while exploring marine issues, we learned that pollution and overfishing directly affect vulnerable communities—especially women—whose livelihoods depend on ocean ecosystems. When studying digital sexual crimes, we reflected on how such crimes not only violate human rights but also worsen mental health challenges among youth, particularly girls. These issues reinforced how health, gender, and environmental concerns overlap. We were also shocked to realize that digital sexual crimes are not widely addressed in public discussions despite their deep impact, and how marine protection is often treated as a separate environmental concern, when in fact it supports jobs, nutrition, and even gender equality. While individual goals are also deemed crucial, it is the interconnected nature of these goals that truly creates progress. No societal challenge exists in isolation. Good health cannot be achieved without equity. Environmental protection cannot happen without economic cooperation. And gender equality cannot be realized without addressing structural access to education, opportunity, and safety. The Sustainable Development Goals were not designed to be completed one at a time, but they were designed to work together. Only when we understand and address their relationships can we move toward a world that is truly sustainable, inclusive, and just for all.
Source used: https://oceangeneration.org/5-human-ocean-threats/
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Voices of Youth
ADVANCING THE SDGS FROM INCHEON TO THE WORLD
Published on July 2025 Published by Hope to the Future Association Incheon East Asia Global Education Institute Contact outreach@hopetofuture.org / www.hopetofuture.org The views expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the affiliated organizations.
Incheon Grand Tour
HLPF Side Event & Exchange Academy at the United Nations