2019 fall program of The Youth Life School. Photo provided by Youth Relations Team.
2019 fall program of The Youth Life School. Photo provided by Youth Relations Team.

 

Courses and media concerning how to deal with life and know better about oneself are thriving among 2030 generation.

 

As a part of the flow, mental therapy applications are being a new trend among millennials. The Chief Operating Officer of Trost, Kim Eo-jin, shared her thoughts on the phenomenon. Trost is a mobile therapy app. Its main function is to connect its users with psychiatrists anonymously and also to utilize their algorithm for the users to be better aware of one’s own emotions.

 

Trost was first developed by five people. When they were developing the application, there were already a few apps relevant with mental therapy out in other countries that were tackling the problem of long distances between houses and the hospital. Kim mentioned why the team had expected the service will be helpful for Korean people.

 

“All of us in the team had experience receiving mental therapy,” Kim said. Knowing the beneficial impact of mental therapies, the team assumed the public would like the service once they tried it. Also, they analyzed Korean people yet feel angst going to the hospital despite feeling the need for it.

 

According to Kim, the team for Trost did not select a certain group as target users at the beginning. But after the service launched, people in their 20s or 30s evidently composed the majority.


Kim believes this phenomenon is caused by the characteristics of the 2030 generation, which is relatively easily asking advice from the professionals.

 

“Compared to those over 40 who try to change themselves when faced with difficulties, people in their 20s and 30s seem to be at more ease seeking advice from professionals. I think this aspect is what makes them try our service,” Kim stated.


On the other hand, The Youth Life School which is a gap-year program sponsored by Seoul Metropolitan Government that started in 2018 likewise had many applicants, exceeding the limit by six times. Ewha Voice interviewed Lee Joonhyuk of Youth Relations Team to learn about the school.

 

“The keyword of the school is pensive thinking and reflection,” Lee said.


The Youth Life School annually has two seasons, one in summer and the other in fall. The last program which took place in 2019 proceeded two types of programs which were Life Design Program and Autonomous project.

 

Two of the most popular programs among the Life Design Program were The Room of Connection and Introspection and Little Forest. Their similarities lied in bringing people together and providing opportunity for communication.

 

On the other hand, Autonomous project, which supports the students to try out personal projects, left much meaning.

 

“For example, one student said her dream was to make music, for which she made great plans during our semester,” Lee began. “Through difficult process she has done it. Surprisingly, she discovered there were other whims involved in her dream to make music. It helped her clarify her likes and dislikes.”

 

Lee said the school receives reviews from the students every semester, and select keywords
from them for the upgrade of the next. For 2020, the school hopes to expand the autonomous project and devise separate course for youth with vocation.

 

The school was planned by the Seoul Youth Government. It reflected the trend of youth leaving for working holidays or leaving school to earn time to explore themselves and their lives.

 

When asked about the expected results of the programs , Lee answered. “The youths giving things a try, and learn better about themselves and their preferences, are all the school wants.”

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