Korea Expressway Corporation opens applications for 2026 highway scholarship program

Korea Expressway Corporation and the Highway Scholarship Foundation announced Friday they will accept applications for their 2026 highway scholarship program from Monday through Oct. 11, aiming to reduce the educational cost burden on families affected by highway accidents and ensure meaningful learning opportunities.

This year, the program overhauled its selection criteria in line with the government's low birth rate policy. The previous limit of two children per household has been scrapped entirely, allowing all eligible children in multi-child families to receive support without a numerical cap. The change is intended to significantly ease the financial strain on large families hit by unexpected accidents.

Eligible applicants include children of those who died in highway traffic accidents or in accidents during construction or maintenance work, as well as individuals who sustained severe disabilities in such accidents and their children.

About 300 recipients will be selected this year. Scholarships range from 2 million won ($1,490) to a maximum of 5 million won, distributed on a sliding scale based on school level and household income, covering preschoolers through university students.

Applicants should check the required documents on the Highway Scholarship Foundation's website and submit them by mail. Final recipients will be selected in November following a review, with scholarships to be disbursed in December.

Since its founding in 1996, the Highway Scholarship Foundation has awarded approximately 15 billion won in scholarships to 8,236 recipients.

"The highway scholarship program is a representative corporate social responsibility initiative that supports accident-affected families in direct connection with Korea Expressway Corporation's core business," said Korea Expressway Corporation President Yu Jeong-hun. "We will continue to provide tailored support so that scholarship recipients can grow into outstanding talent."

Meanwhile, Korea Expressway Corporation is hosting its 15th Road Landscape Design Competition, with submissions accepted through Oct. 29.