Kang Ki-yoon, People Power Party Changwon Mayoral Candidate, Vows to Ease Parents' New Semester Financial Burden

Changwon-Style "Dream Admission Preparation Grant of 500,000 Won"
Provided to All New Elementary, Middle, and High School Students
Distributed as Local Currency to Boost Local Businesses

Kang Gi-yoon, the People Power Party candidate for Mayor of Changwon, announced on April 16 that his key education pledge is the “Changwon Dream Admission Preparation Fund”—a payment of 500,000 won to significantly ease the financial burden on parents of new students entering elementary, middle, and high schools.

Kang Gi-yoon, People Power Party Candidate for Mayor of Changwon. [Image provided by Kang Gi-yoon]

This pledge aims to reduce the financial challenges parents face each admission season, such as having to prepare a lump sum for school bags, uniforms, and school supplies for their children entering elementary, middle, or high school.

The “Dream Admission Preparation Fund” proposed by Kang will provide 500,000 won per student to every new elementary, middle, and high school entrant residing in Changwon, regardless of household income. This universal education welfare policy, targeting approximately 22,000 students each year, is an additional benefit from Changwon City separate from existing support such as the Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education’s school uniform subsidy.

Parents will be able to use this support to broadly purchase a variety of items needed for their children’s educational activities—including school bags, shoes, books, stationery, glasses, and smart devices—thus offering real relief from the household expenses that arise each new school year.

In particular, the funds will be provided in the form of local currency to ensure that the benefits for parents also translate into increased sales for small local businesses, thereby firmly establishing a virtuous cycle that revitalizes the local economy.

Addressing concerns raised in some quarters about fiscal soundness, Kang stated, “I will rigorously restructure unnecessary festival and expendable event budgets to prioritize securing funding for education welfare.”

Changwon City plans to start immediate payments to new students from March 2027, following an ordinance revision and consultation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare in the second half of this year.

Kang emphasized, “Providing the 500,000 won admission preparation fund is more than just a cash handout—it is an investment in the children who represent Changwon’s future and a policy that truly supports parents’ lives. With this bold education support, which sets Changwon apart from other municipalities, I will surely make Changwon a ‘special education zone’ where parents from surrounding cities and counties want to live.”

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