Naju City to Open Applications for 'Naju Ae Learning Voucher' from the 5th of Next Month

Published 26 Feb.2024 10:54(KST)

Jeonnam Naju City will recruit applicants for the ‘Naju Ae Baeum Voucher’ project to enhance citizens' lifelong learning rights from the 5th to the 20th of next month.

According to the city on the 26th, the Naju Ae Baeum Voucher focuses on self-capacity development through learning in various fields, cultural enjoyment, and income generation for local lifelong learning providers and businesses.

Naju Love Lifelong Learning Voucher Learner Recruitment Poster. [Photo by Naju City]

Beyond simple learning, it provides extensive lifelong learning in culture, arts, sports, and more tailored to individual tastes and leisure preferences, aiming to improve quality of life in regions outside the metropolitan areas as a pledge project of the 8th local government administration.

In particular, among local governments in the province, Naju City is the first to implement its own voucher project related to lifelong learning. It was first launched last year targeting 2,500 citizens.

Eligibility to apply is open to any Naju citizen aged 19 or older, who can freely select and attend desired lifelong learning courses.

Currently, there are a total of 152 learning centers registered on the Naju City Lifelong Learning Information Center.

The city supports learners with an annual lifelong learning exclusive voucher card (Gwangju Bank) worth 150,000 KRW per person.

Applications for the project are accepted online through the Naju City Lifelong Learning Information Center website. Citizens who have difficulty applying online can visit their local eup/myeon/dong administrative welfare center with their ID card by the 19th of next month.

However, citizens receiving national scholarships, national lifelong education vouchers, National Tomorrow Learning Cards, Jeonnam Youth Culture Welfare Cards, Munhwa Nuri Cards, or Jeonnam Women Farmers Happiness Vouchers cannot apply simultaneously.

The city plans to verify eligibility and exclusion criteria in April and select beneficiaries.

If the number of applicants exceeds the quota, an online public lottery will be held for fairness.

Results can be checked on April 8th on the Lifelong Learning Information Center website and will be individually notified via mobile text messages.

Selected applicants will receive a Naju Ae Baeum Voucher exclusive card issued by Gwangju Bank, which can be used at registered educational institutions until the end of the year. Existing card users will have their cards recharged.

Applications for lifelong learning voucher card usage institutions are also open year-round. Eligible institutions are those operating educational programs for citizens aged 19 or older and can accept voucher card payments for tuition fees.

Institutions can register by applying on the Naju City Lifelong Learning Information Center website. Registration requires a program operation plan and a business registration certificate or educational institution registration certificate with the business type classified as educational services.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “Following last year’s first implementation in the province, we expect the lifelong learning voucher project, expanded to 3,000 people this year, to enrich citizens’ quality of life in their daily lives. We will continue to strive to discover customized lifelong learning that fits the Republic of Korea’s lifelong learning city and disabled lifelong learning city, so that citizens can enjoy the joy of learning.”

Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr