First Policy of New Term: 'Youth and AI'… Free AI Access for Young People

[Anchor]

Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who has begun his fifth term as mayor of Seoul with a pledge to build a "Seoul where youth can dream," has unveiled "Youth AI Fundamental Rights" as his first policy. The initiative aims to provide young people with access to the latest AI services and opportunities for AI education.

Here is this week's news from Seoul, reported by Yun Nara.

[Reporter]

In his first policy announcement since the start of his ninth term, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon focused on youth and AI.

Stating that proficiency in AI leads to gaps in employment and future opportunities, he announced that he would provide a "ladder of opportunity" so that all young people can utilize AI.

[Oh Se-hoon/Mayor of Seoul: Even in the age of AI, a parent's economic status should not determine a young person's potential. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will open up opportunities to utilize AI to all young people.]

To this end, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it is in discussions with the providers of ChatGPT and Gemini to allow Seoul residents aged 19 to 39 to use the latest AI services for free starting early next year. The city also plans to foster AI talent by providing customized AI education through its own platform.

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Young shoppers formed long lines at a ceramics pop-up store in Lotte World Mall in Jamsil.

[Cheon Yun-young/Gunja-dong, Seoul: I like cooking at home, so I enjoy plating my food on pretty dishes. There are so many beautiful items here.]

The pop-up store features a shop that has been operating in Namdaemun Market for 35 years, and it is highly popular among young people who enjoy cooking and sharing their food on social media.

[Ahn Hyo-heon/F&B Team Leader, Lotte World Mall: While the MZ generation previously preferred things like omakase, the current trend aligns well with their interest in plating food they cooked themselves at home and posting it on social media.]

According to a commercial district survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jamsil 4-dong in Songpa-gu recorded the highest growth rate in floating population and the number of stores in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter. Furthermore, the number of foreign tourists visiting Songpa-gu, including Jamsil, reached approximately 2.98 million last year, an increase of about 900,000 over the past two years.

This is attributed to the operation of unique stores, including those featuring K-food, at venues like Lotte World Mall, which have successfully attracted both domestic shoppers, including the MZ generation, and foreign tourists.

(Video coverage: Kim Heung-ki | Video editing: Chae Cheol-ho)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.