Gyeonggi Province Youth Policies That Strengthen Today and Help Design Tomorrow

Gyeonggi Province will support up to 200,000 won for health checkups and preventive vaccination fees for young people this year. The Youth Ladder program, which provides overseas training opportunities for youth, Gyeongchung Stars for overseas employment, the Gap Year project supporting career planning, and the Gyeonggi Province Youth Basic Income providing up to 1 million won annually and quarterly regional currency to youth aged 24 in Gyeonggi, will continue this year as well. In addition to support for language and qualification exam fees to ease the economic burden on young people, financial support is available, as well as support for isolated and reclusive youth and injury insurance enrollment for military service youth. These are policies for the present and future of young people.

■ Support for Life Stability Including Marriage, Health, and Basic Income

The province will promote the 'Gyeonggi Youth Medicare Plus' project, a new initiative proposed by youth, supporting up to 200,000 won for health checkups and preventive vaccination fees for 4,400 young people (ages 19-39) in the province this year.

For health checkups, up to 200,000 won for health checkup fees including endoscopies, brain MRI/MRA, etc., will be provided to 2,200 unemployed youth. Support for preventive vaccination fees will cover HPV, influenza, hepatitis, and other preventive vaccination fees up to 200,000 won for 2,200 youth with household income at or below 120% of the median income.

If there are many applicants, final beneficiaries will be selected by evaluating income level, length of residence, and other factors. Beneficiaries will be selected around May to June and supported from July to December.

Following last year, support for newlywed congratulatory funds will continue this year. 200,000 won in welfare points will be provided to 2,880 newly married couples registering marriage this year. Points can be used at the 'Gyeonggi Youth Newlywed Couple Welfare Mall,' scheduled to open in the first half of this year.

The 'Gyeonggi Province Youth Basic Income,' which provides 250,000 won quarterly, up to 1 million won annually in regional currency to 24-year-old youth, will begin accepting applications starting in March. Applicants must be youth born between January 2, 2001, and January 1, 2002, based on the announcement date.

With the expansion of youth basic income usage, academy tuition and test fees can be used throughout Gyeonggi Province without municipal restrictions, and some online payments are also possible through the Gyeonggi Province Youth Basic Income online mall.

■ Finding Your Path Overseas, 'Youth Ladder'

The 'Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Program' provides youth ages 19-39 in the province with opportunities for overseas university training. Full program costs are covered, including language classes, local cultural experiences, and self-directed team projects. This year's recruitment target is 200 participants, with plans to visit a total of 8 universities.

The Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Program first began in 2023. In its first year, 200 young people trained at 5 overseas universities including University of Sydney in Australia; in 2024, 270 youth trained at 9 universities including University of Michigan in the United States. Last year, the program scale was further expanded, with 340 young people visiting 12 universities in 8 countries.

■ A Year Doing What You Want, 'Youth Gap Year'

The 'Gyeonggi Youth Gap Year Program' is a project providing up to 5 million won in project support funds per person, mentoring, and capability-building education to enable youth to explore their career paths through experiences they desire.

Project fields include 19 categories such as design, education, music, IT, and environment. This year, the province will support 600 young people's project implementation, and youth ages 19-39 in the province can apply individually or as a team.

■ To Overseas Employment and Startup Sites, 'Gyeongchung Stars'

'Gyeongchung Stars' targets youth seeking overseas employment or startup opportunities, providing practical experience through overseas corporate site experience and mentoring. This year, 100 people will be supported with on-site experience at overseas companies in 11 cities across 11 countries, as well as networking with local youth leaders.

■ From Exams to Finance, Reducing the Burden on Youth

Through the 'Gyeonggi Youth Capacity Enhancement Opportunity Support Project,' language and qualification exam fees up to 300,000 won are also supported for unemployed youth. The support scale is 24,200 people, and supported tests include △19 types of language tests △Korean history △541 types of national technical qualifications △345 types of national professional qualifications △99 types of nationally recognized private qualifications, totaling 1,005 types.

Support funds correspond to exam fees for tests taken from December last year through November this year, and as the budget has been exhausted early for two consecutive years, there is high demand for this project among youth.

Through 'Gyeonggi Youth Opportunity Ladder Finance,' available regardless of income and assets, low-interest loans up to 5 million won for a maximum of 10 years and preferential savings rates are provided. As a financial product allowing low-interest loans and preferential savings from a single account, it targets youth ages 25-39 residing in the province. From October 2023 to December last year, loans totaling 90.1 billion won were provided to 24,445 people.

■ Support for Daily Recovery and Self-Sufficiency of Isolated and Reclusive Youth

Counseling and daily recovery programs are supported for 300 isolated and reclusive youth and their families.

After initial consultation by professional counselors, in-depth counseling and daily recovery programs including online activities, emotional care, relationship building, work experience, volunteer activities with companion animals, and community living experiences are conducted based on needs and conditions, with non-face-to-face counseling also available upon participants' request.

■ Securing Social Safety Net Through Injury Insurance for Military Service Youth

Free injury insurance coverage is supported for injuries and accidents during military service. Eligible applicants include active duty military personnel with resident registration in Gyeonggi Province and full-time reserves. Beneficiaries are automatically enrolled without a separate application procedure at the start of military service.

Coverage includes △50 million won for injury death or disability diagnosis △50 million won for disease death or disability diagnosis △200,000 won for surgical fees △40,000 won per hospitalization day (maximum 180 days), etc. With an additional 20 million won provided for injury death or disability from explosions, fires, or building collapse, maximum coverage reaches 70 million won, and insurance benefits can be received separately from military treatment fees or personal insurance.

For more details on Gyeonggi Province youth policies, visit the Gyeonggi Youth Portal website (youth.gg.go.kr) or Gyeonggi Province website (gg.go.kr).

At the '2025 Gyeonggi Province Youth Day Commemoration Event,' Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated, “Gyeonggi Province is making great efforts to provide many opportunities to many young people. The message is to pursue your dreams through such opportunities.” He added, “You will experience trial and error, failures, and setbacks along the way. Gyeonggi Province will support your efforts and challenges in finding your dreams by standing you back up, providing alternative paths, and rescuing you when you struggle.”