Busan Office of Education Provides a Total of 32.6 Billion KRW in Educational Benefits and Expenses Support for Low-Income Students

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education will provide approximately 32.6 billion KRW in educational benefits and tuition support to about 37,000 low-income elementary, middle, and high school students this year.

Educational benefits are part of the Basic Livelihood Security system, with uniform support standards nationwide. Students whose household income-recognized amount is 50% or less of the median income (monthly income-recognized amount of 2.7 million KRW or less for a family of four) are eligible for support.

Recipients of educational benefits can receive full support for educational activity support funds, tuition, and textbook fees. This year, the educational activity support fund has been increased by an average of 23.3% compared to last year, providing 415,000 KRW for elementary students, 589,000 KRW for middle school students, and 654,000 KRW for high school students, respectively.

This year, to prevent misuse of educational benefits, the payment method for educational benefits (educational activity support funds) has been changed from cash to vouchers.

Recipients of educational benefits can apply for vouchers on the Korea Student Aid Foundation website and receive educational activity support funds as card points or similar.

Tuition support is provided according to the support standards of each metropolitan and provincial office of education. In Busan’s case, those with 60% to 80% or less of the median income may be eligible for support.

Tuition support recipients can receive ▲ after-school free course vouchers up to 1 million KRW per year ▲ internet communication fees up to 230,000 KRW per year ▲ PC support for those meeting selection criteria within budget ▲ school trip and field trip expenses (actual costs) ▲ graduation album fees up to 70,000 KRW ▲ and support for tuition and textbook fees.

Tuition and textbook fees are only supported for students attending private special-purpose high schools, autonomous private high schools, and other schools that do not offer free education.

Table of Increased Educational Activity Support Funds by Elementary, Middle, and High Schools.

Parents or guardians eligible for support can visit their local eup, myeon, or dong administrative welfare center or apply online through ‘Bokjiro’ or the ‘One-Click Tuition System’ during the concentrated application period for educational benefits and tuition support for elementary, middle, and high school students, which runs from the 2nd to the 17th of this month.

Applications can also be submitted at any time outside the concentrated application period, but support is provided from the month of application, so it is advantageous to apply at the beginning of the semester in March.

If a child enters elementary school, an application must be submitted even if siblings are already receiving support. If an application has already been submitted and support is being received, reapplication is not necessary, but the household’s income and assets will be reviewed to determine continued eligibility.

For more details, contact the eup, myeon, or dong administrative welfare center, the Ministry of Education Central Counseling Center, the Ministry of Health and Welfare Call Center, or the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education.

Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, said, “This year, we have significantly increased the educational activity support funds that can be used autonomously according to each student’s educational needs,” and added, “We will continue to support low-income students so they can receive diverse educational opportunities.”

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