Awards Ceremony Held for Selection of Korean Youth Delegation to 2026 G20 Youth Summit (Y20)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the awards ceremony for the 2026 G20 Youth Summit (Y20) Korean Youth Delegation Selection Competition on December 29, 2025. At the ceremony, Lee Jiyoon, Deputy Director-General for International Economic Affairs, presented awards in recognition of the outstanding performance of Korean youth participants selected through the 2026 Y20 selection competition.

Y20 is one of the G20 Engagement Groups, voluntarily organized by civil society organizations to represent the voices of non-governmental stakeholders in specific sectors. It aims to produce a policy communiqué to be delivered to G20 leaders. Since 2012, MOFA has conducted an open selection process for the Korean Y20 delegation in order to raise awareness of the G20 among Korean youth and to provide them with opportunities to express their views on major international issues.

This year, MOFA hosted the Selection Competition with the Korean Association of International Studies (KAIS) over a two-month period from October to December. English essay evaluations and in-depth interviews were conducted on topics of interest to the 2026 G20 Presidency, the United States, including economic growth and deregulation, as well as artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. As a result, five awardees were selected: Kang Dong-yeon, Kim Min-seo, Kang Chae-won, Kim Chae-rin, and Shim Ji-min.

At the ceremony, Deputy Director-General Lee encouraged the delegation, expressing hope that they would draw up a policy communiqué that actively reflects the views of Korean youth on key economic issues and broaden their perspectives through active exchanges with youth representatives from other G20 member states. The youth delegates committed to actively participating in discussions so that the views of Korean Youth may be reflected in the policy communiqué to be adopted at the Y20 main event.

The 2026 Y20 delegation selection competition and awards ceremony are regarded as having contributed to raising youth awareness of the G20 and key global economic issues. MOFA will continue to provide opportunities to foster youth interest in international economic issues and to encourage their participation on the global stage.