protection, and the college entrance rate is low at 62.8% compared to 70.4% for general youth, and the unemployment rate is twice as high at 16.3%.299) They lack basic knowledge to maintain a livelihood, and they have difficulty finding people to ask for help, so they are at a high risk of exposed to poverty and crime. In particular, half of the children preparing for independence experience psychological difficulties to the extent that they have considered suicide,300) and for various reasons, contact with support organizations is lost for about 20% of the cases.301) In Jul. 2021, the government announced a ‘Plan to Strengthen Support for Children Discharged from Out-of-Home Care.’ This plan includes extending the period of protective measures, extending the independence allowance period after the end of protection, increasing the allowance, strengthening public housing support, expanding case management support, operating an agency dedicated to independence support, expanding dedicated personnel, and expanding psychological support programs. At the end of 2021, the Child Welfare Act302) was revised, and from Jun. 2022, the children subject to protection can extend the protection period until the age of 24, if they wish. Recently, the unstable and poor living conditions of young people preparing for independence have been continuously reported in the media, and the interest in the need to improve appropriate policies and systems to support independence of the young people preparing for independence is increasing as civil groups promote projects to support children who have discharged from facilities. Despite the revision of the law from 2021 and the government's improvement plans, several tragic incidents of children whose protection ended in 2022 show that the state must take on more responsibilities for the best interests of children. 299) Joint-Ministry, Plan to Strengthen Support for Children Discharged (Youths Preparing for Independence), Jul. 13, 2021. 300) Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Study on Improving the Delivery System of Protective Services to Strengthen the Support for Youths Preparing for Independence, 2020. 301) National Center for the Rights of the Child, 2021 Children Independence Support Statistics Report, 2022. 302) Child Welfare Act Article 16-3 (Extension of Period of Protection) ①Where a child subject to protection who reaches the age of 18 has an intention to extend protective measures, a Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall extend the period of protection until the child reaches the age of 25, notwithstanding Article 16 (1). 130