Youth affairs and policies in South Korea are overseen by the National Youth Commission. Established in 2005, the National Youth Commission is directly attached to the Office of the Prime Minister. It also unites the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the National Youth Protection Commission, which were all previously their own faculties. The National Youth Commission brings youth fostering and youth protection together, and seeks to develop the basic plans of youth policies, activate youth participation, promote training, counseling and guidance, provide support and management for youth welfare, investigate and regulate harmful media sources, protect young people from sexual crimes, support victim rehabilitation and publicize youth issues.

The National Youth Commission developed a five-year youth development plan for 2008-2012, to be implemented both nationally and by local governments. Policy goals include: a safety net for those in crisis, ensuring various opportunities for young people, the promotion of youth participation and the overall improvement of a young person’s environment. The policy provides for implementing shelters for youth in crisis, after-school activities, extending youth rights in regards to youth participation and the creation of a healthy media environment for young people, among others.

Other laws specifically relating to Youth Civic Participation include the Youth Basic Law and the Youth Activity Promotion Law. The Youth Basic Law has been in effect since 1993 and regulates youth policies and basic functions of youth development. Under this law, youth leaders are trained, facilities are created, and youth-led programs are developed and executed. The Youth Activity Promotion Law was enacted in 2004, and created a policy for international youth exchange activities, and the management of youth encounter centers as well as encouraging volunteering and other cultural activities.[4] Limited information is available regarding the details of these laws.

Young South Koreans are civically engaged throughout various parts of the nation, specifically in rural areas lacking in educational and community facilities. Rural areas of South Korea, unlike large cities such as Seoul, still face a lack of access to running water and sewage disposal. As a result, environmental pollution and poor sanitation still pose serious threats to residents in these areas. Additionally, new and less conventional threats, but, according to the South Korean government, still very important public health issues have arisen such as internet addiction. The average South Korean high school student spends over 23 hours each week playing video games. In response to these issues, and support from the government, organizations are creating programs to assist and engage these young people in their communities.