By Park Jong-il, Senior Reporter Seongdong-gu in Seoul is accepting applications for its 2026 Lifelong Learning Voucher program through July 27, giving all district residents the chance to pursue education regardless of their background.
The voucher program covers tuition and textbook costs for a wide range of lifelong education courses — including certificate programs, foreign languages, entrepreneurship and the humanities — so residents can learn independently and enrich their daily lives.
A key change in this second round is the complete removal of the income eligibility requirement that applied in the first round earlier this year. Any Seongdong-gu resident aged 19 or older may now apply, significantly broadening the program's reach.
Applications are open to adults registered as Seongdong-gu residents and are divided into four categories; applicants may apply for only one category.
The program will select 174 recipients in total: 156 spots in the general category for those 19 and older, nine in the digital category for residents 30 and older seeking digital education, six in the senior category for those 65 and older, and three in the disability category for registered persons with disabilities aged 19 and older.
Each recipient receives 350,000 won ($235) annually, which can be used toward tuition and textbook costs at eligible lifelong education institutions across Seoul and other cities and provinces. The funds are provided as points loaded onto an NH Nonghyup Chaeum card and must be used by the end of this year.
The voucher is for the selected individual's personal use and course enrollment only. Purchasing textbooks without enrolling in a course, or buying electronic or telecommunications devices, is not permitted.
Applications are open through July 27. General, digital and senior vouchers can be applied for online through the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Lifelong Learning Voucher website; the disability voucher is available through the Government24 portal. If applications exceed the quota for any category, recipients on basic livelihood assistance or the near-poverty tier will be given priority, with remaining spots filled by random draw.
Results will be posted on the Lifelong Learning Voucher website in early August, and selected applicants will also be notified by text message. For more information, residents can contact the Lifelong Learning Voucher counseling center or visit the Seoul Lifelong Learning Voucher website.
Seongdong-gu District Mayor Yu Bo-hwa said lifelong education is "an essential foundation for actively adapting to a rapidly changing society and expanding life's possibilities," adding that the district would "consistently expand lifelong learning opportunities so that all residents can plan and realize a better life."
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