A forum for policy exchange among young people from Korea, China, and Japan opens in Sejong

From February 4 to 13, the Sejong RISE Project Group at Korea University Sejong Campus, in collaboration with the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) and Sejong City, co-hosted the ‘2026 Young Ambassador Program (YAP).’

Launched in 2013, the Young Ambassador Program marks its 12th edition this year and is one of the flagship youth international exchange initiatives of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat. The program has contributed to enhancing mutual understanding and building a foundation for cooperation among young people from Korea, China, and Japan. Under the theme ‘Beyond Borders: Building a Shared Future of Trilateral Cooperation,’ this year’s program brought together 48 undergraduate and graduate students from the three countries for a ten-day schedule.

During the program, participants engaged in various activities such as lectures, discussions, team projects, and field visits. Focusing on key issues jointly faced by the three countries, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), economic cooperation, population and aging, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, as well as culture, education, and youth exchange, participants developed team-based policy proposals.

To ensure that students’ policy proposals are more organically connected to the characteristics of the host city, the program has included ‘Sejong City linkage items’ as a reference component in the team policy proposal guidelines. Accordingly, participants had the opportunity to briefly explore how their policy discussions can be linked to Sejong City as an administrative and policy-centered city while refining their ideas.

In the policy proposal presentations, the relevance to Sejong City has also been considered as a reference factor. Students were encouraged to freely explore and reflect Sejong City’s policy environment and potential for international cooperation in line with their respective team topics. Through this approach, Sejong City further establishes itself as a learning-oriented international exchange platform where young people from Korea, China, and Japan can develop concrete policy ideas and engage in meaningful exchanges.

On February 4, at the opening ceremony, Yang Jiwoon, Vice President of Korea University Sejong Campus; Lee Heesup, Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat; and Choi Minho, Mayor of Sejong City, attended and emphasized the importance of youth exchange and international cooperation.

Following the opening ceremony, a Global Leadership Dialogue under the theme ‘Next-Generation Global Leadership’ was held. Speakers included Kavita Sinha, Special Advisor to the Green Climate Fund (GCF); Ganbold Baasanjav, Head of the Northeast Asia Office of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP); and Asa Torkelsson, Head of the UNFPA Seoul Office. The speakers discussed major global issues and the role of youth in shaping the future, while also sharing their personal experiences in developing leadership.

Through this Korea–China–Japan Young Ambassador Program, the Sejong RISE Project Group plans to expand the foundation for international youth exchange and policy learning centered on Sejong City, and to continuously generate tangible RISE outcomes that connect local communities with the global arena.