'Seoul Run' Resumes New Semester Sign-Ups... Free Support for Single-Parent Children and North Korean Defector Youth

Starting This Year, Children of Legally Recognized Single-Parent Families and North Korean Defector Youths Also Included in Eligibility

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City's online education platform 'Seoul Learn,' aimed at restoring the educational ladder, announced on the 16th that it will resume new registrations on the 25th to welcome the new school year and semester.

Along with resuming new registrations, Seoul City will upgrade 'Seoul Learn' starting this year. Children from single-parent families and North Korean defector youth will be able to receive free educational services from this year, and the number of learning sites offering free access to popular online lectures will increase to 10. A 'PC Remote Support Service' will also be introduced to resolve any inconveniences arising from using Seoul Learn. The 'Seoul Learn Mentoring,' which provides one-on-one learning coaching, will actively encourage participation aiming for all members to use the service.

Seoul City introduced the main expanded services of 'Seoul Learn' starting this year along with the resumption of new registrations. Any children and youth who meet the registration requirements, such as those who did not register last year or new students entering elementary school this year, can sign up. Existing members can continue to use their original IDs.

The improved 'Seoul Learn' services from this year include ▲expansion of eligible registrants ▲increase in learning sites from 8 to 10 ▲improvements in site usability such as membership registration ▲activation of 'Seoul Learn Mentoring' aiming for all members to use the service.

First, the existing eligible registrants, which included youth meeting income criteria and out-of-school or multicultural youth, will be expanded this year to include children from legally recognized single-parent families and North Korean defector youth (ages 6 to 24). Additionally, the number of learning sites where 'Seoul Learn' members can listen to popular online lectures for free and without limits will increase from 8 to 10, and members can change their selected learning site midway through.

The usability of the 'Seoul Learn' site will also improve. From this year, new registrants will be simultaneously registered to their chosen learning site when signing up for 'Seoul Learn.' This improves the previous process where members had to register separately for the learning site after joining 'Seoul Learn.' To minimize user inconveniences while using 'Seoul Learn,' a 'PC Remote Support Service' will be introduced this year. If remote service is needed during phone consultations, counselors can remotely access the user's PC to immediately resolve issues.

Furthermore, from this year, the system has been revamped so that online and offline mentoring is a mandatory option when registering as a member of 'Seoul Learn.' However, if users are already using mentoring from other institutions and wish to use only the learning sites without Seoul Learn mentoring, they can enter the mentoring institution information during registration.

Along with the resumption of new registrations for 'Seoul Learn,' events to encourage learning motivation and registration have been prepared. When a 'Seoul Learn' registrant selects a learning site, they will receive a textbook coupon worth 20,000 KRW. Additionally, students with excellent progress rates and login times will receive textbook coupons quarterly to reduce their learning burden.

Meanwhile, Seoul City will also expand and offer 'Open Lectures' this year, which anyone can listen to without membership registration or login. Especially this year, new programs such as gap year programs for career exploration and corporate-linked programs will be provided. Lee Dae-hyun, Director of Seoul City Lifelong Education Bureau, explained, "Since opening last August and going through trial and error, the online learning site 'Seoul Learn' is becoming more complete and will resume new registrations with an improved appearance."

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