BUSAN — A dedicated space where teenagers can play, rest and learn about environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices will open in the heart of downtown Busan.
The Busan Metropolitan Government said on the 27th that it will receive 500 million won (about $360,000) from the Mercedes-Benz Social Contribution Committee to build the youth-only facility, named "Youth PLAY&ESG." The funds will be channeled through the Children and Future Foundation, a social welfare corporation, to develop the space.
Youth PLAY&ESG will use idle space inside Songsanghyeon Plaza to create a multipurpose complex offering play, rest and hands-on programs for young people. Educational and experiential content built around ESG themes will also be prepared so that teenagers can encounter social values in their daily lives.
The money came from entry fees for the 13th Give & Race, co-hosted by the Mercedes-Benz Social Contribution Committee and the Children and Future Foundation. Registration fees from the marathon event, held in April this year around BEXCO and Gwangalli Beach, are being converted into the youth facility.
Since 2020, the Mercedes-Benz Social Contribution Committee has raised funds for children and teenagers from vulnerable groups through the annual Give & Race and delivered them to the city. This year, the focus shifted beyond straightforward donations to building a space that young people can use directly.
The Children and Future Foundation is currently holding a tender to select a contractor, and the city aims to complete construction within the year.
The city plans to use Youth PLAY&ESG as a downtown hub where teenagers can interact with the local community and gain a range of experiences. In particular, it intends to link sustained private-sector philanthropy with public youth policy, continuing support programs for young people even after the space is built.
"The Mercedes-Benz Social Contribution Committee's steady philanthropic activities are a great help in spreading a culture of giving in Busan," Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said. "Once a space where teenagers can freely stay and interact is built, it will greatly help their healthy activities and growth."
