As societies face increasing complexity and rapid transformation, the "Emerging Citizens" concept provides a critical lens to understand and address future societal shifts. Emerging Citizens are defined as individuals or groups characterized by one or more of their attributes such as regionality, minority status, intersectionality, or emergent behaviors. These citizens are not merely vulnerable or marginalized but possess the potential to drive societal transitions through their unique perspectives and actions.
This report explores the role and significance of Emerging Citizens in envisioning and shaping future societies. It expands upon traditional research approaches by integrating "preferred futures" with "avoided futures," thereby identifying potential social risks and actionable responses. By engaging with diverse case studies―including regional residents, medical
AI users, multicultural international students, women peace activists, and an SF writer with disabilities―the report highlights how Emerging Citizens can illuminate structural inequities and propose innovative solutions.
The key findings underscore the importance of integrating the voices of Emerging Citizens into policymaking to foster inclusivity and equity. For example:
• Regional engagement: Dialogues with citizens from Incheon reveal urgent concerns such as economic stagnation, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, and environmental challenges. Solutions proposed by participants ranged from resource conservation to technological innovation.
• Intersectional advocacy: Women peace activists and their dual focus on gender equality and peacebuilding demonstrate how intersectional approaches can redefine democratic and inclusive policy frameworks.
• Technological transformation: The adoption of AI in healthcare reshapes professional roles and presents ethical and regulatory challenges, highlighting the need for collaborative policymaking.
• Cultural integration: Multicultural students, particularly international students in regional areas, highlight the potential for economic and cultural revitalization but face linguistic and systemic barriers that demand targeted support.
• Creative perspectives: The work of an SF writer with disabilities exemplifies how creative approaches can redefine societal norms and envision inclusive futures through technology and storytelling.
This report concludes by emphasizing that Emerging Citizens are not merely subjects of change but active agents capable of sparking societal transformation. Their lived experiences and emergent issues serve as vital signals for detecting future risks and designing adaptive, multidimensional policies. Addressing the challenges they raise requires innovative policy frameworks, legislative support, and enhanced social solidarity to create a fairer and more sustainable society.
Through this analysis, the report aims to inspire policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to recognize and amplify the voices of Emerging Citizens, ensuring their inclusion in shaping the trajectories of future societies.
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