Getting help with your child's education

Don't give up on your child's education because of cost. Schools and local governments have support schemes.

What is available

1. Education benefit and cost support — school supplies, textbooks (income-based)
2. School meal support
3. After-school vouchers — covering after-school programme costs
4. Study mentoring — university student mentors, local study rooms
5. Korean and basic skills support for multicultural students
6. Priority education welfare projects — school-wide integrated support
7. Community child centres — after-school care and study

Steps

1. Ask the school first. The class teacher or education welfare officer will guide you.
2. Apply for education cost support.
   • Online: Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr
   • In person: the school or your community service centre
3. Submit income documents.
4. Check the result and receive the support.
5. Many schemes require reapplying each year.

What you need

• ID for the child and parents
• Proof of enrolment
• Income and asset documents
• A bankbook

Where to go

• The school's class teacher and education welfare officer
• Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr
• Your local community service centre
• Your district education office
• 1577-1366 Danuri Helpline (interpretation)
• Your nearest community child centre

Questions people ask

Are foreign-national children eligible? If they attend school, they often are. Check with the school and community centre.

Will my child feel singled out? Schools handle it so that support is not visible. Tell the class teacher in advance.

The paperwork is difficult. The school's education welfare officer or community centre staff will help. Use 1577-1366 for interpretation.

There is no one to look after my child after school. There are community child centres and after-school care classes. Ask the school and community centre.

Take care

Many schemes have fixed application periods. Notices come home early in the term — don't miss them. If Korean is hard, it is fine to ask the class teacher for a translation.

Related

multicultural-child-support · bilingual-environment · daycare-enrollment · kindergarten

Source

Ministry of Education www.moe.go.kr / Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr / As of 2026-08