The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday it will open third-round applications for its children's eye health program, which offers vision screenings and discounts of up to 20 percent on eyeglasses. Applications will be accepted Tuesday through Sunday via the city's public service reservation website.
The program, launched in 2023 to support children's eye care, has benefited a cumulative 30,000 recipients through last year, with demand growing consistently. In 2024, 15,413 children applied, and in 2025, the first three application rounds alone drew 10,298. This year, 1,853 applied in the first round in February, followed by a second round in May, bringing the total for the first half of this year to about 5,000 applicants.
Children under 12 — born on or after Jan. 1, 2013 — are eligible regardless of whether they applied in previous years. Those selected will receive a discount coupon for use at participating eyewear stores, sent by text message on Sept. 4.
The coupon allows families to purchase eyeglasses at up to 20 percent off. The city has partnered with five companies and associations — Eutteum50 Optical, Davich Optical, Starvision (O-Lens), the Seoul Optometrists Association under the Korean Optometric Association, and Optic Life — giving access to 1,420 affiliated stores across Seoul. That is 11 more locations than the 1,409 available during the second round in May.
After a vision screening at a participating store, customers can present the coupon to receive 20 percent off non-sale products, or an additional 5 percent off items already on sale. The discount of up to 20 percent also applies when replacing lenses while keeping an existing frame. However, lens-replacement discounts at stores affiliated with the Seoul Optometrists Association vary by location, so customers should confirm eligibility before visiting.
To help families who miss the application window, the city has added a text alert feature to its public service reservation system; subscribers will receive reminders two days before each application period opens and closes. The city also plans to post program schedules and instructions in English, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese on Hanultari, its information portal for multicultural families, and on the Seoul Foreigners Portal, to make it easier for multicultural households to apply.
"As children's screen time increases ahead of the new semester, the need to protect their eyesight is growing," said Ma Chae-suk, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Bureau. "We hope families who missed previous rounds — including multicultural households — will take part this time and help safeguard their children's eye health."
ken@heraldcorp.com
