Providing 300,000 Won 'Entrance Preparation Fund' to All New Middle and High School Students in Seoul

To Reduce New Semester Parents' Burden, Support for Purchasing School Uniforms, Books, and Smart Devices
Total 41 Billion KRW Budget Shared by Seoul City, Districts, and Education Office in a 3:2:5 Ratio

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Starting next year, all students entering middle and high schools in Seoul will receive an 'admission preparation fund' of 300,000 KRW each, which can be used to purchase school uniforms, reference books, smart devices, and more. Approximately 41 billion KRW will be invested to support about 136,700 first-year middle and high school freshmen.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and 25 autonomous districts announced that from 2021, they will provide a uniform admission preparation fund to new middle and high school students to alleviate the financial burden on parents for the new semester. All freshmen are eligible regardless of their guardians' income.

Currently, school uniform support is provided in 12 cities and provinces nationwide and 4 autonomous districts in Seoul, but this is the first time nationwide that an admission preparation fund, which can be used more broadly beyond just uniforms, will be provided to all freshmen.

The first recipients are estimated to be a total of 136,700 first-year middle and high school students in Seoul next year.

Seoul plans to provide the admission preparation fund to students registered as residents in Seoul but attending schools in nearby cities or provinces, as well as students residing in other cities or provinces but attending schools in Seoul. However, overlapping support will not be provided if other cities or provinces already offer uniform support funds.

The amount of 300,000 KRW was set considering last year's Ministry of Education's upper limit for joint school uniform purchases (301,163 KRW). The total budget required is 41 billion KRW, which will be shared by Seoul Metropolitan Government, autonomous districts, and the Office of Education in a 3:2:5 ratio. Seoul plans to include its share of 12.3 billion KRW in the next year's budget under the 'Education Expense Subsidy Project.'

The payment will be made by charging 300,000 KRW worth of Zero Pay points?a payment method used at small business stores?onto the mobile phones of students or their parents. Usage will be restricted to purchasing items necessary for admission preparation, such as uniforms and books.

This admission preparation fund support originated from discussions between the Seoul City Council of District Mayors and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Initially, the education office was to cover 65% and the autonomous districts 35% of the costs for free uniform support, but after Seoul joined the adjustment task force, considering the financial conditions of the districts, it was decided that districts would bear 30%. The support scope was also expanded to include books, smart devices, and more, in addition to uniforms.

Seoul expects rapid implementation under the existing 'Seoul Education Expense Subsidy Ordinance' after consultation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare next month, in accordance with the Framework Act on Social Security. Seongdong-gu and Gwanak-gu have already recently announced ordinances to be enforced from January 1 next year, and other districts will sequentially enact ordinances after budget support and consultation with Seoul and the Office of Education.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, Lee Dong-jin, Chairman of the Seoul City Council of District Mayors (Dobong-gu Mayor), and Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "In the unprecedented livelihood crisis triggered by COVID-19, we have made a determined decision after much deliberation to reduce the economic burden on parents and firmly protect our children's right to education. Along with free meals for all grades in elementary, middle, and high schools and tuition support, we expect to realize complete free education and universal educational welfare by alleviating the economic burden related to admission preparation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.