Gwangjin-gu announced it is opening the second round of applications for its "Youth Culture Lifestyle Voucher" program, which provides 100,000 won ($65) annually to young residents who struggle to enjoy cultural activities due to job-search pressures and income gaps.
The program is a youth-tailored welfare policy designed to ease the cultural isolation felt by young people facing prolonged job searches amid high prices and high interest rates, as well as early-career workers struggling to achieve financial independence. Following the first-round recruitment of 250 participants in the first half of the year, the district plans to select an additional 250 youth in this second-half round.
Applicants must be between 24 and 29 years old (born between 1997 and 2002) and have been continuously registered as Gwangjin-gu residents for at least one year as of the application date. Household income must fall at or below 120 percent of the median income standard. If applications exceed the available slots, final selections will be made in order of lowest average national health insurance premium paid per household, prioritizing lower-income applicants. However, those already receiving similar cultural welfare benefits — such as the Culture Nuri Card — are not eligible to apply.
Applications for the second half of the year are open through July 15. Applicants can apply online through the Gwangjin-gu website and submit supporting documents by email to the program coordinator. Selected recipients will be notified individually by text message in August.
Those selected will receive a dedicated voucher card preloaded with 100,000 won by registered mail. After registering the card on the program's dedicated website, recipients can use it through Nov. 30. Any unused balance at the end of the period will be automatically forfeited when the program closes.
The voucher can be used across a wide range of categories — arts and culture (films, performances, exhibitions, books and more), health and sports (gyms, fitness centers, swimming pools and more), career development and hobbies (craft studios, education facilities and more), and shared spaces (study cafes, practice rooms and more). A searchable list of participating merchants is available on the youth portal of the Gwangjin-gu website.
"I hope this culture lifestyle voucher gives young people who have had little breathing room amid job searches and early-career adjustments a chance to rediscover the energy of everyday life," said Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Gyeong-ho. "We will continue to develop practical, tangible youth policies so that young people can pursue their dreams without financial burden and grow into healthy members of society."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
