The purpose of this study is to look into the character and meaning of youth rights policy by examining the social background and process of the formation of youth rights policy, which began with the swift of policy paradigm emphasizing 'youth rights ...
The purpose of this study is to look into the character and meaning of youth rights policy by examining the social background and process of the formation of youth rights policy, which began with the swift of policy paradigm emphasizing 'youth rights and participation' late 1990s.
Youth that were the objects controlled and protected turned into the subjects of human rights and participation by the second Five-year Youth Development Plan, which was the result of social necessity for the youth's being-change, policy-actor's activities, and social conditions.
First, the social background of the discourse for youth rights is following. The discourse of human rights was expanded owing to political democracy. And persistent faltering economy and unemployment of young adults brought about the collapse of the economic value and privilege of school education. The decrease of the economically productive population increased the necessity that youth must be considered as partner in the social development. Also, the pressure of the international society for the observance of global standard contributed to the formation of youth rights discourse.
Second, youth rights discourse was expanded through the activities of youth specialists and organization as well as youth as following. Youth's paths for understanding and experience are various due to the progress of information. Also the growth of youth's rights consciousness led to the resistance to the entrance exam-oriented education system. Youth rights movement developed from the individual question-presentation to systematic social movement. Also, the activities of rights and youth organization and specialists group for international rights agreement contributed to the formation of youth rights discourse. The discourse of youth rights made it difficult the existing social system and policy to control youth, bringing about the new policy of government.
Third, the change of the social environment and social expansion of youth rights discourse made it possible to re-establish the ideology of youth policy and to form the rights discourse. Youth rights policy was formed through the revision of Youth Charter, the establishment and promotion of rights policy through the second Five-year Youth Development Plan, and the preparation of legal ground on youth rights policy.
The medium-long range plan of youth policy converted youth policy paradigm into youth 'rights improvement and self-control and participation', and began to develop the new rights policy including Youth Participation Committee.
Youth's participation in policy began to be animated, and compulsory laws were made. The specialist group that worked on the policy activities had a direct effect on the policy issue and decision in the policy formation. As a result, youth showed up as the subjects of policy.
Nevertheless, the shortage of government's will and energy in forming youth rights policy was one of the causes of slow development of youth rights policy. The government was content with the superficial level that met the international level. Youth rights policy stayed in the superficial level for a long time.
This youth rights policy is the result of the policy improvement and the selection of the new youth image. That is, youth policy formation contributed to the youth rights expansion by having the meaning that youth also expand their rights as social being having human rights and civic rights.
On the other hand, youth rights policy is the result of selection of the new youth management system by state. Protection and control-centered youth policy no more managed youth effectively, and the demand of youth rights expansion increased gradually. So the change of policy paradigm was needed. The reflection of youth's need must be animated by promoting youth's participation in policy formation to make youth play an active role for youth rights expansion.